As I always say, “furniture” is a very big word. Known primarily for its sugar production, the sugar maple grows throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Similar to Hard Maple, Pine is also a firewood that produces a lot of smoke. So, we’re going to give you a couple tips for picking-out Maple even if you don’t have the leaves around. The hard and soft maple division is primarily a North American categorization meant to distinguish hard maple from the various other species of softer maples.) Hard Maple is denser than Soft Maple and produces a higher heat output. Woodsnwoods, May 11, 2019 #1 Top. Maple is a hardwood because it is a deciduous tree, meaning it loses its leaves every year. So, definitely, you should give more info about what kind of furniture you are talking about. How do I tell the difference between soft and hard maple when it is still in logs? Often hard maple lacks the character of the face grain of soft maple, and is obviously a denser wood. Although it is possible, the silver maple produces a lesser quality of sugar sap resulting in poor maple syrup. And it is very different than many of our other common firewoods. Hardness and Grain On the Janka hardness scale -- a scale that ranks wood for hardness, hickory is the hardest of all domestic hardwoods, ranking at 1,820. "Soft maple" isn't a maple species. Also, sugar maple grows throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. These maples, as you might guess from the name, are softer and less dense than hard maples. The hard maple is the state tree of Wisconsin, Vermont, New York and West Virginia. This site is owned and operated by Wholesome Gear, LLC. Another factor that is commonly used for rating firewood is “coaling”. I can tell when it's still a tree, when it's lumber and when it's a split piece of firewood but not the foggiest idea when it's still in log form. Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Woodsnwoods, May 11, 2019. Wholesome Gear, LLC may also participate in affiliate programs with other sites. The tree is found everywhere in the eastern United States, and people use it as an ornamental tree due to its rapid growth rate. Soft maple is slightly less dense and not as strong. Most hardwood firewood, including Soft Maple and Hard Maple, have low sap levels and produce less creosote than very sappy firewood like Pine. For outdoor campfires, Pine or Cedar are better because they produce a pleasant fire that doesn’t burn too long. Jim: A few comments about the article discussing soft maple as a “softwood” firewood. Douglas fir firewood is a popular firewood choice for many people. With care, it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily and can be stained to an outstanding finish. The wood is only soft in comparison to hard maple. It is not a hybrid. The sugar maple is a large tree. And Hickory has bark that grows in thin “plates” that sometimes hang or flake off (like with Shagbark Hickory). Maple (Soft) Overview. Soft Maples on the other hand are comprised of a few varietires of Maple Species such as Big Leaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum) and Red Maple (Acer Rebrum). Hard Maple also produces far more smoke than Soft Maple does. Hard maple is defined as sugar maple and black maple only. Sugar Maple– The best of the soft maple, you’ll be happy burning sugar maple. How to use a clay chiminea to create the perfect backyard fire. Typically, Hard Maple is most often known as Sugar Maple. I fill the bucket about half full of those little chunks and put on top of the fish fryer and heat it up. Soft maple is very similar to hard maple in most respects. The maple tree is a member of a group of 200 species of trees and shrubs worldwide that belong to the Acer family. Some mills are now separating silver Norway Maple– It’s a hard maple that burns really well when seasoned. Firewood cost is usually more stable than the cost of gas and fuel oils. Maple Wood. Hello and thanks for the A2A. The silver maple grows in a variety of soil conditions and has tolerance to a broad range of climates. The general designation of hardwood vs softwood is do they shed their leaves in the fall so Maple is a hardwood. Mass-production furniture makers are the biggest buyers of soft maple. Joined: Sep 21, 2015 Messages: 2,510 Likes Received: 15,897 Location: Syracuse, NY. Jon Yarde is a firewood enthusiast, an Eagle Scout, and an avid learner and teacher of outdoor skills. The wood polishes well and is suitable for enamel finishes and brown tones. Many common products like furniture, cabinets, and musical instruments are made using both Hard and Soft Maple. The dampening effect is therefore somewhat less, taking a hard maple guitar more in the direction of what we’d expect from a mahogany guitar. Hard Maple is considerably heavier than Soft Maple, given two pieces of wood of the same size. So if you see rays, then it’s not Maple. Maple does NOT have rays that are visible to the naked eye, like Oak and Sycamore both do. outdoor) and enclosed fireplaces. Hard Maple vs. Soft Maple "Hard maple" is the common term for two species of maple trees: Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and Black Maple (Acer nigrum). Pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. To give you a clearer view of this, I compiled some side-by-side numbers. Chainsaw Bar Not Getting Oil (Oiler Not Working). Wood Hardness Chart Species (Alphabetical) Hardness Species (by Hardness) Hardness Mahogany, Honduran 800 Padauk 1725 Mahogany, Santos 2200 Tabaccowood 1750 Maple, Hard North American 1450 Rosewood, Bolivian 1780 Maple, Ivory 1500 Bamboo, Carbonized 1800 Maple, Soft 999 Hickory 1820 Merbau 1925 Pecan 1820 Mesquite 2345 Yellowheart 1820 White ash, sugar maple and birch trees also produce excellent firewood, albeit not quite as good as oak and hickory. I’ve heated my farm house and barn 100% with wood for many years. The wood is usually straight-grained. I’ll admit, this is not a 100% scientific approach, but if you’re in a similar environment (e.g. Maple trees are a hardwood and are known for their beautiful fall colors as well as the fact that they are used to make maple syrup. It will produce 24.0 million BTU’s per cord. The lumber is generally sold unselected for color. Think about it, when the wood is split more surface area is exposed to the wind and sunshine, which are the primary contributors to dry wood. Maple also has two varieties, hard and soft. (And to a great extent, this also accounts for … You may do a double take here, because a lot of people don’t do this step due to the extra effort required. Generally, the sapwood is greyish-white, sometimes with darker-colored pith flecks. As demand and price for hard maple increased several years ago, soft maple followed. Hard maple is commonly used in the manufacture of flooring, furniture, cabinets, billiard cues and other finished wood products. If this... Chainsaw chain oil lasts between 4-6 years when it's stored in an unopened container or an opened container that has been tightly sealed. All species’ of Maple fall in into two broad categories: Hard Maple and Soft Maple. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'burlybeaver_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',107,'0','0'])); Heat output is definitely an important characteristic for firewood, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Soft maple usually refers to red maple and sometimes silver maple, which is sometimes called swamp maple. Its growth rings are barely visible, but light brown streaks are common along the grain. Now, when we say soft Maple is “poor”, and Hard Maple is just “moderately good”, does that mean you shouldn’t use them? No! In order to expedite the process, and to get your firewood seasoned as quickly as possible, use the following tips for fast drying: firewood dries WAY faster when it is split into pieces, rather than sitting in log-form. When any kind of firewood burns it produces coals, and the quality of the coals produced has a big impact on how long (and how well) the fire will continue burning.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'burlybeaver_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_17',110,'0','0'])); Firewood that is on the top of the list for BTU output, tend to have very good coaling properties, and Maple actually performs really well on coaling also. Curly Maple (Tiger Maple) is traditional hard maple (sugar maple, rock maple, hard rock maple) with a soft and flowing figure. The wood has no characteristic odor. wood dries faster in Texas than in Oregon), and if you’ve properly split and stacked the wood. In general, firewood that is very sappy will produce much more creosote build-up than firewood that is not as sappy. Both are quite hard as compared to other woods and both are specifically used for certain applications. Other common types of maple trees found in North America are: Overall maple is one of my favorite firewood choices. Classifying wood as either a hardwood or softwood comes down to its physical structure and makeup, and so it is overly simple to think of hardwoods as being hard and durable compared to soft and workable softwoods. The sugar maple has the highest sap sugar content of any of the native maple species and is commonly used to produce maple syrup. Physical Characteristics: Soft maple is more likely than hard maple to be peppered with “pith flecks,” which are dark, irregular streaks or spots that usually result from insect attack on the growing tree. Exactly how long it will take depends on several factors, including the climate where you’re located (e.g. Soft Maple has low heat output, a nice smell, and produces great coals. The trees are very common on my property and the majority of the wood I burn every year is maple. The best type of firewood for heating a home with a wood stove, is Black Locust or Hickory, due to the high heat output and long-lasting coals. they’re on the Canadian flag). Discusses placement from your home and how to build the perfect backyard fire. Although there are many different species of maple, the sugar maple (sometimes referred to as the hard maple) may be one of the best known. The trees are tapped in the early spring and the sap is processed by cooking it to remove the excess moisture leaving behind maple syrup. Depending on the species they will either have 3 or 5 “fingers”. The wood polishes well and is suitable for enamel finishes and brown tones. Although there are numerous different species of maple, sugar maple or hard maple may be one of the best known. A few facts about Hard Maple (acer saccharum) Always check provenance to ensure your supply is from a well managed source. Pacific Coast Maple dries easily with little degrade and has good dimensional stability after drying. The silver maple (sometimes referred to as soft maple) is the fastest growing maple species. To preserve maple’s light color, apply a non-yellowing, water-based finish. Hard Maple vs. Soft Maple "Hard maple" is the common term for two species of maple trees: Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and Black Maple (Acer nigrum). The majority of builders and woodworkers refer to maple and oak generically because two types, red oak and hard maple, are the most commonly used. Wood that sparks heavily can create significant fire hazards, which can cause problems in both open-air (e.g. These maples don’t have as many BTU’s as hard maples but they still make good firewood. The shape of a Maple leaf is probably the most famous of any tree (e.g. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'burlybeaver_com-leader-4','ezslot_20',117,'0','0'])); In the picture below, I’ve got a piece of Maple wood. When it comes to firewood, hardwood simply refers to any wood that is hard and dense. It’s hard to top the cozy feeling generated by the sight, sound and smell of a wood fire burning in the fireplace on a cold winter night, sending warmth through your house as the firewood crackles and the fire creates an ever-changing display of hypnotizing patterns that can entertain for hours on end. Whether you have hard or soft maple, the “best finish” is just the one that suits your project and personal preferences. Soft Maple firewood is okay, but not as good as the higher-ranked types of firewood on this list. Norway Maple– It’s a hard maple that burns really well when seasoned. Silver maple can live up to 150 years and grow as high as 100 feet. White oak, which is more exclusive than red oak, should be priced higher than red oak. I can tell when it's still a tree, when it's lumber and when it's a split piece of firewood but not the foggiest idea when it's still in log form. You can also use the end-grain of the wood to help with identification. Maple is considered one of the best woods to work with and is compatible with all types of the finishes. Hard maple is brighter overall than soft maple, owing to its greater stiffness. Hello and thanks for the A2A. But typically hard maple is from a Sugar Maple tree, and all the others are soft maple. Softwoods refer to woods that are less dense and not as hard. Return from Maple Firewood to Firewood Types. The most common hard maple is the sugar or rock maple. Other Good Wood to Burn. Firewood Hoarders Club. Sugar maple has the most significant sugar content of any of the native maple species, and people commonly use it to produce maple … Conclusion. Hard maple is commonly used in the manufacture of flooring, furniture, cabinets, billiard cues and other finished wood products. Thor, Backwoods … There are a few other factors, that will affect how good the wood is for heating or for outdoor campfires. Now, when we say soft Maple is “poor”, and Hard Maple is just “moderately good”, does that mean you shouldn’t … It’s not quite as good as Cherry, or Hickory, which have famously good fragrances. What Is Maple Hard Or Soft Wood? For a tree to be a hardwood is based on whether that tree is deciduous, not on the density of the wood. live in an area with similar trees and forestland) than these factors should work well. Firewood cost is usually more stable than the cost of gas and fuel oils. 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