Soft Maple
Characteristics: Soft Maple is a domestic hardwood. This wood resembles Hard Maple. It is close grained but it is much softer in texture. The sapwood color is creamy white and the heartwood is light reddish-brown.
Common Uses: This lumber is used for flooring - furniture - interior joinery - turnery - decorative veneers - musical instruments and as an alternative to Hard Maple.
Working Properties: Soft Maple works readily with hand and power tools and can be glued satisfactorily. It has a moderate blunting effect on cutters. This wood may be stained and polished to an excellent finish.
Common Name: Soft Maple
Tree is Native To: Soft Maple grows throughout most states east of the Rocky Mountains. The largest quantity is found in the New England states and the states along the Great Lakes region. The two trees that produce the most Soft Maple are the Red Maple and the Silver Maple. Red Maple is the sate tree of Rhode Island. Soft Maple also grows in Southern Canada.
Botanical Classification: Acer saccharinum, rubrum
Family: Acceraceae
Average Dried Weight: 35 lb/ft.
Average Specific Gravity: .54
