is maple a hardwood or softwood
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Maple
Acer /ˈeɪsər/ is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae. There are approximately 132 species, most of which are native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. Only one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere. The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, the most common maple species in Europe. The maples usually have easily recognizable palmate leaves (Acer negundo is an exception) and distinctive winged fruits. The closest relatives of the maples are the horse chestnuts. Maple syrup is made from the sap of some maple species.
What is the difference between Hard Maple and Soft Maple?
Many common products like furniture, cabinets, and musical instruments are made using both Hard and Soft Maple. For hardwood flooring however, Hard Maple is used much more often since it has a 25% higher density than Soft Maple.
Soft Maple
The beautiful thing about both Hard and Soft Maple species is that they can produce a variety of unique grain patterns and effects. Birdseye, tiger striped, wormy, and curly are all grain patterns that are sought after for unique and pleasing effects in a variety of products, and especially coveted by designers. Hardwood flooring and cabinet manufactures typically prefer the regular grain of the Maple species for its excellent coloration and beautifully consistent grain pattern.
So, how can you tell the difference between Soft and Hard Maple? These tips might help.
- Observe the leaves. If the tree is still standing and yet to be harvested, take a look at its leaves. Hard Maple leaves have sinuses which are U-shaped valleys between the points of the lead, also referred to as lobes. The lobes are similar to the round gaps that we have between the fingers on our hand. A Soft Maple leaf, however, will have sinuses that are more V-shaped.
- Take note of the color. Hard Maple usually has a lighter, more uniformed color. While Soft Maple is typically darker, sometimes carrying hues of brown, red, or even grey.
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- Weigh the boards. While there are many variables that can sway the results, taking a Soft Maple board and a Hard Maple board to determine which one is heavier (denser) is one way you can tell the difference between the two. Often, Hard Maple boards are heavier than Soft Maple boards. This method is not always 100% accurate, however.
- Test with Iron Sulfate. By dabbing a small amount of Iron Sulfate to the Maple board you will get one of two reactions. If it is on a Hard Maple board, iron sulfate will create a pale blue or green coloration on the board. On a Soft Maple board, the chemical will turn dark blue to black in color.
Hard or Soft Maple
Whether you are choosing between Hard or Soft Maple, rest assured that both can produce fantastic results for a variety of hardwood lumber products. At American Lumber, we are able to offer an excellent supply of both Hard and Soft Maple hardwoods to fit your need. If you use Maple in your production or would like to know more about whether Maple would be a good fit for your production, give us a call. We are always happy to help.
by Eric Meier
Perhaps you’ve seen a type of lumber for sale known as “soft maple,” and were wondering: what’s the difference between between this Soft Maple and Hard Maple? Just how soft is it? Why does it cost about half as much as Hard Maple? How can I tell the two apart?
Well, here are the answers:
HARD VS. SOFT: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The term “soft maple” does not refer to any specific species of maple, but rather, it’s a broad term which includes several different species of maple. The term “soft maple” is merely used to differentiate these species from hard maple.
Hard Maple, on the other hand, typically refers to one specific type of maple species: Acer saccharum. Hard maple is also known as rock maple or sugar maple, (this is the same tree which is tapped to get maple syrup). Besides this one species of maple, the only other species that are sometimes considered in the grouping of hard maple in the United States are black maple (Acer nigrum) and Florida maple (Acer floridanum). But these species are far less commonly seen commercially, and they are both so closely related to hard maple that some even consider them to be sub-species of the same tree, classifying them as Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum. and Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum, respectively.
Oregon
Depending on where you live, different species might be sold as soft maple. For instance, if you live in Oregon, the soft maple that you buy (if it has been harvested locally) will likely be bigleaf maple, while those living in the eastern United States may actually be buying red maple or silver maple. (And just as citizens of both the east coast and the west coast each like to assert the superiority of their own respective region, there is almost a rivalry between bigfleaf maple advocates on the west coast, and red maple fans on the east coast.)
Some of the most common species of maple that fall under the grouping of soft maple are:
- Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
- Box elder (Acer negundo)
- Red maple (Acer rubrum)
- Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
- Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
Each of these maples have their own characteristics regarding strength, hardness, weight, etc. But overall, they are not as hard nor as strong as hard maple; though for a more exact comparison, continue to the data found in the next section.
HARDNESS OF MAPLES COMPARED
It should be obvious that hard maple is harder than soft maple, but you may be wondering how much of a difference there is between the two. Will soft maple simply collapse like a polystyrene cup as its “soft” name implies?
The good news is that for many purposes, soft maple will be hard enough to be used in place of hard maple. Even though it is referred to as soft maple, it is only soft in relation to hard maple.
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A common measurement of wood hardness is the janka hardness test. The test measures the amount of force required to embed a .444″ diameter steel ball halfway into the wood. The results for each of the maple species are shown in the chart below.
Now it may look like hard maple is heads and tails above the rest (and to a certain extent, it is), but for reference, black cherry has a janka hardness of 950 lbf (the same as red maple), and black walnut is rated at 1,010 lbf. Also note that black maple (not pictured), isn’t quite as hard as its close relative, hard maple, and ranks in the mid-range, with a hardness of 1,180 lbf.
700-950
Taking the hardness data within context of other hardwoods, soft maple may be used as a valid substitute for hard maple in most situations where a hardwood of moderate density is called for. In addition, soft maple is slightly easier to work with, and won’t dull cutting edges as quickly, or burn as readily when being shaped as hard maple.
The main instances where you would want to stick with hard maple would be in applications where hardness and strength are important, such as: butcher blocks, flooring, workbench tops, etc. Hard maple (1,450 lbf janka) is roughly twice as hard as soft maple (700-950 lbf janka)—primarily because it tends to grow about half as fast as most other soft maple species. (And to a great extent, this also accounts for the difference in cost between the two types of maples as well.)
Why Does Maple Wood Change Colors Over Time?
Virtually all hardwoods change color as the years go by. Light-colored wood, such as maple, will naturally darken due to exposure to UV light and oxygen. As the years pass, even a white maple piece will develop a honey-gold patina. For this reason, it’s generally best to purchase sets all at once versus building a collection a little at a time, as pieces added later will have a slightly different hue.
What are the Common Uses of Maple Wood?
Maple wood is commonly used in high-end furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and kitchen accessories. Because of its durability and strength, maple can be found used as flooring in bowling alleys and for bowling pins. It was also once a popular choice for wood baseball bats before being largely replaced by Ash, which is equally as strong but more lightweight.
It’s unique color, smooth grain, and strength make maple a popular choice among woodworkers of all types. In its natural state, it can totally brighten a room, yet stained maple looks equally gorgeous and can be dressed up to suit any preferred style. Maple wood also tends to get chosen when durability is a concern because it can take a beating.
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Is Maple a Hardwood or a Softwood?
Hardness is arguably one of the most misunderstood things about wood in general, but maple wood adds to the confusion.
Technically, hardwood refers to wood harvested from a dicot tree, such as a broadleaf variety. A softwood, on the other hand, comes from a gymnosperm tree, such as a conifer. It’s not a reference to the wood’s ability to withstand force, scratches, or dents.
Softwoods include things like fir, pine, and cedar. Hardwoods include cherry, oak, walnut, and maple, among others. What gets confusing about maple is that it can also be described as both hard and soft.
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