Maple, Soft
Latin Name: Acer rubrum
Family: Aceraceae - the Maple family
Other Common Name(s): Carolina Red Maple, Drummon Red Maple, Maple, Red Maple, Scarlet Maple, Soft Maple, Swamp Maple, Water Maple, White Soft Maple, Worm Hole No Defect Soft Maple, WHND Soft Maple
Domestic Hardwood
Suitable for Exterior/Interior Use
Interior Use Only
Uses
Flooring, Furniture, Interior Trim, Millwork, Mouldings, Musical Instruments
Distribution
Soft Maple grows in much of eastern North America, as far west eastern Texas and as far north as Newfoundland. Soft Maple prefers wet or swampy areas, but it is also one of the species to generate on cut or burned forest areas.
General Description: The sapwood is wide and fairly white in color, and the heartwood is a light tan to light brown that sometimes has a gray, green or purple hue. The wood is a straight closed grain, with a fine texture. The grain can occasionally yield wavy patterns.
Price Range ($ least expensive, $$$$$ most expensive):
$$
Working Properties
Machining: Good
Nailing: Fair
Glueing: Fair
Screwing: Good
Finishing: Good
Physical Properties
Weight (lbs/BF): 3.083
Specific Gravity: 0.49-0.54
Modulus of Rupture (psi): 7,700-13,400
Modulus of Elasticity (1,000 psi): 1,390-1,640
Side Hardness (lbs): 950
Additional Information
Most hardwood are prized for their heartwood, but in the Maples sapwood is usually more sought after then heartwood. Like Hard Maple there is limited amount of bird's eye, curly, or tiger grain available. For blocking, furniture frames, and other products that appearance is not critical there is also a Worm Hole No Defect (WHND) grade available.
Item Availability
4/4 FAS
4/4 Sel & Btr
4/4 Sel & Btr White
4/4 #1 Com & Btr WHND
4/4 #1 Com
5/4 FAS
5/4 Sel & Btr
5/4 Sel & Btr White
5/4 #1 Com & Btr WHND
5/4 #1 Com
6/4 FAS
6/4 Sel & Btr
6/4 Sel & Btr White
6/4 #1 Com & Btr WHND
6/4 #1 Com
8/4 FAS
8/4 Sel & Btr
8/4 Sel & Btr White
8/4 #1 Com & Btr WHND
8/4 #1 Com
10/4 FAS
10/4 Sel & Btr
10/4 #1 Com & Btr WHND
10/4 #1 Com
12/4 FAS
12/4 Sel & Btr
12/4 #1 Com & Btr WHND
12/4 #1 Com