Types of Maple Lumber
Maple lumber is commonly available in a multitude of varieties, and whatever you plan to use the wood for will govern the type of maple to choose. Over time, people have found multiple uses for wood once considered too hard, rotted or just not suited for the hobby of woodworking.
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Hard Maple
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Hard maple is among the most common species of maple and is often used as flooring and to make furniture and guitar necks. Although it finishes great, hard maple is one of the most difficult North American species to work with, due to its density.
Soft Maple
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Soft maple is less dense, thus it can be attractive to woodworkers who enjoy craft making and cabinetry. It's easier to machine, but it is prone to grain tear out.
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Bird's-eye Maple
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Bird's-eye maple was once considered defective wood, but it has become highly regarded in the musical instrument-building industry. Instruments made of the wood command higher prices than guitars built with less figured wood. Bird's-eye maple gets its name from small knots called "eyes" and the more "eyes" per square inch, the higher the lumber is regarded.
Spalted Maple
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Spalted maple is known for its black lines that create distinctive patterns. This type of maple can make excellent door panels, but it tends to be brittle. Spalt is created by rot and bacteria that has inflected the wood before it dries. It's desirable in just about all woodworking circles, as each piece is one-of-a-kind.
Quilted Maple
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Quilted maple can be found on some of the most expensive furniture and musical instruments created. This is due to its stunning depth, which is represented in a quilted pattern. Also known as big leaf maple, this wood is harvested from the largest maple tree species in North America.
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