Hard Maple?

[Newburnerwisconsin]

Is it hard maple? It free how does it burn? I can cut a lot more. What do you think?

 

[fbelec]

not sure if it is rock maple but any maple is worth it esp. if it's free get all you can

 

[lost in the woods]

i believe that is soft maple aka red maple acer rubrum

 

[trguitar]

Agree. Red maple. Still good, though. Not as good as sugar, but worth getting. Dries very quickly (like less than 6 months). I don't use it overnight when it is below 20. It's a good wood for when it is not bitter cold, but not shoulder season either.

 

[ThunderMedic]

Excellent find! Great medium wood that dries fast. Grab up as much of that as you can find.

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[Sully1515]

Absolutely! Great hardwood. It's already been mentioned here, but, properly stored, it seasons somewhat quickly. With decent coverage and enough air for the wood to dry out, you'll be all ready to go for next winter.

 

[Woody5506]

I was getting bored of all the maple I was getting last season, until I realized how nice and quick it seasons.

 

[timfromohio]

Any free hardwood is difficult to pass up. Stock up and build up a multi-year supply!

 

[JSeery]

I would rule out sugar maple. There's a chance that is rock maple but more likely it is red maple as others have said. If you can find a leaf that would settle the matter. Either way, I would get all I could if I were you.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Yes grab it regardless what kind it is, all good stuff!!

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

Here it is. Thanks everyone. I am going to cut all I can.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

I would rule out sugar maple. There's a chance that is rock maple but more likely it is red maple as others have said. If you can find a leaf that would settle the matter. Either way, I would get all I could if I were you.

Leaves are green if that helps.

 

[saewoody]

I love maple. Around here it's one of the more common, readily available woods we have.


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[Soundchasm]

Love sugar maple. Have to conclude that silver maple is worth the effort, but not much more.

Maybe the smart guys can confirm/deny, but I think the seed is a "tell" on hard/soft maple.

Here's a seed of what I'll call a hard maple until demonstrated otherwise.

 

[SeanBB]

Those seeds here in UK are from a Sycamore tree. I think in US you call it a Sycamore Maple.(Acer pseudoplatanus)

 

[JSeery]

Leaves are green if that helps.

Rock maple leaves tend to be a dark green and can almost be black (rock maple is also known as black maple, scientific name "Acer nigrum"). But they can also be lighter green so the color is not dispositive.

Do the leaves have jagged edges, or smooth edges? If jagged, it's red maple (i.e. soft maple), but still really good stuff to burn.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

Here is a leaf from one of the trees. The wood is heavy like oak. Splits real easy. Has a brown center in the logs.

 

[Wood Duck]

That leaf is odd, but I'd say the tree is Red Maple. The wood and bark look right, and the leaf, although not a typical Red Maple leaf, has the small teeth along the edges that are characteristic of Red Maple.

 

[nrford]

100% Red aka Soft Maple

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

So far I have cut about a cord. I have about 5 or 6 cords left on this job. Landowner says cut it all and haul it away. I am going to have a lot of Maple.

 

[Newburnerwisconsin]

100% Red aka Soft Maple

As long as it's good firewood. That's what is important to me. Thanks

 

[peakbagger]

As others have said, its probably red maple. I burn a couple of cords a year and hand split it all. I want a fast burn for my boiler and don't really have a use for coals so its perfect for me. It can be dry enough to burn in six months if split and stacked properly but tis much better after two years.

 

[warno]

If it's free get all you can. Free wood burns better!

 

[ValleyCottageSplitter]

I'm not great at identifying sugar maple logs, but it certainly looks like Red Maple logs I've harvested. Another benefit not mentioned is Red Maple is easy to split. Straight rounds up to 20" can easily split with a maul. The more twisted rounds are slightly more difficult than ash.

Love sugar maple. Have to conclude that silver maple is worth the effort, but not much more.
Maybe the smart guys can confirm/deny, but I think the seed is a "tell" on hard/soft maple.
Here's a seed of what I'll call a hard maple until demonstrated otherwise.
View attachment 200915View attachment 200915

I'm not sure the samara's are always good indicator. The one you pictured looks pretty close to Norway Maple because there is a large obtuse angle between the leaves. Sugar samaras can probably vary a bit. I usually think of the blades more like these:


Another good indicator is the twig. Sugar maple has a narrower twig with a very sharp point at the end.