AMERICAN HARD MAPLE: D
Our stock is available as No. 1 and No. 2 White. A No. 1 white board is in principle selected white on both faces as samples A & B whereas a No. 2 white board will be as sample A & B on one face and as sample C & D on the reverse face. Much of the stock available in the UK today is sold as face and better i.e. as a No. 2 white board.

Production: S/E, S/E PTW, DIM.

Acer saccharum
Family: Aceraceae

Commercial names: Rock Maple, Sugar Maple, (UK, Canada and USA); White Maple (sapwood) USA.

Distribution: Canada and Eastern USA.

General description: Cream-white with a reddish tinge. Large trees may have dark brown heart. Usually straight grained but sometimes curly or wavey. Fine brown lines give an attractive growth ring figure on plain sawn surfaces. Texture is fine and even. Weight average about 720 kg/m3 (45 lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.72.

Mechanical properties: High in all strength properties except stiffness which is medium. It has a very good steam bending classification.

Seasoning: The timber dries slowly without undue difficulty. There is medium movement in service.

Working properties: A difficult wood to work with a moderate blunting of cutting edges. A reduced cutting angle is required with wavy or curly grained material. Pre-bore for nailing or screwing; takes glue and polish satisfactorily.The increasing demand for American Cherry with the inevitable increase in prices has caused manufactures to consider stained Hard Maple as a substitute as the grain of both species is very similar. Unfortunately Hard Maple does not take stain evenly and great care should be taken when
finishing in order to obtain the colour required.

Durability: The heartwood is non-durable and the sapwood is liable to attack by furniture beetle. Growth defects caused by insects (pith flecks) are sometimes found. The heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

Uses: Has a high resistance to abrasion and wear and is used for all heavy-duty flooring. Also used for furniture and panelling, textile machinery rollers, shoe lasts, parts of piano actions, musical instruments, sports goods, butchers blocks, dairy and laundry equipment and plywood. It is excellent for turnery.

JBT Comments: Not to be confused with Soft Maple (Acer saccharinum) which is less strong. Soft Maple is soft and pinkish in colour and shows considerable mineral streaks. Both species are always traded separately. We refer to our grade as No 1 and No 2 White. This refers to the colour grading only. No 1 white means 2 sides and 2 edges white within the cuttings of the grade, not the whole board. A large board could theoretically have 162/3% brown on both faces and still be a FAS No 1 white board. No 2 white means 1 side and 2 edges white within the cuttings of the grade, allowing up to 50% brown on the back of the cuttings. The cuttings being the clear pieces which figure into the grade in question. When one is quoted by a shipper No 1 and No 2 White, the percentage of each colour specification may not be given. It is important to know your shippers and we try to buy approximately 75% No 1 White and 25% No 2 White. The only problem with selection for whiteness is that the overall width specification can be narrow. The wider the board the more likely one is to find the colour.

Certification: We have established a supply of American Hard Maple which is produced from well managed forests, independently certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council A.C. All our Certified Timber is processed through our Chains of Custody which are audited by BM TRADA Certification.

Grade: Export grade No 1 and No 2 White 80% FAS. 20% FAS IF or better.

Specification: Square edge 8ft and longer. 5ins and wider allowing up to 15% 6ft/7ft and/or 4ins. Fixed width 31/2ins, 4ins, 41/2ins and 5ins strips and clear shorts, 3ft to 5ft. 3ins and wider are available in 1in thickness.

Stockholding: 8,000 cubic feet in kiln dried stock: 1in to 4ins
thickness.