About the wood
Hard Maple
Acer saccharum
The king of the maple genus: stronger, stiffer, harder and denser than every other commercial maple, and the wood under bowling lanes and basketball courts. The tree tapped for maple syrup.
- Janka
- 1450 lbf
- Density
- 44.0 lb/ft³
- Origin
- Northeastern North America
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern
Working & finishing
Fairly easy to work but harder than soft maple because of its density; it burns under high-speed cutters, so keep bits sharp and moving and take two shallow passes rather than one deep one. Turns, glues and finishes well; pre-drill for screws. It blotches under stain and needs a pre-conditioner, gel stain or toner for even color, so OCC finishes it clear with oil or hardwax.
Care
Indoor use only; rated non-durable to perishable and susceptible to insects. Wipe spills promptly and keep the pale surface out of standing water. Expect more seasonal width movement than the other maples; a base that allows movement matters.