I know it's Maple, but what kind?

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mywaynow

Minister of Fire
Dec 13, 2010
1,369
Northeast
This is a piece of Maple I scavenged a month ago. It was heavy as can be, even more so than the Red Oak. It was also a bear to split. The ripples in the grain are what I noticed as unique. They are ridges, not just color changes. Tree was over 40 inches abh. Maple specialists here?
 

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Why do you think it's maple? Leaves? sweet sap? Be safe.
Ed
 
I was told it was Maple by the property owner, and it looks like Maple in every way I see. Definietly not an expert at this, but Maple seems to be an easier id than most.
 
We have plenty of sugar and norway maple of all sizes. They are usually lighter than our oak and split cleanly unless large knots or branch w's. We do have some real experts on the forum so they should have some good ideas. Be safe.
Ed
 
That is called Fiddleback Maple (Maple with very tight curl like that has been prized for violin fronts & backs for centuries),Tiger Maple,Curly Maple among other names.Both Hard & Soft Maples are known to have it,though Hard Maple is more common. The grain pattern also appears in Red & White Oak,Black Cherry & Black Walnut on occasion.Prized for veneer,not often found in large pieces,normally scattered throughout the main trunk or random branches.Especially when the tree is under some form of stress,growing irregularly.Can appear when the branch or trunk has a slight bend,or near a knot,but not always.


Here's a piece of Bur Oak I found years ago.Managed to cut a few small pieces that didnt crack & split during drying.Was a medium sized tree about 40 ft tall growing at edge of farm field,part of lower trunk had barb wire fencing embedded in a couple places.Very hard & even harder to split with maul due to the heavy cross grain.Beautiful stuff when smoothed & polished though.The varnish has yellowed a bit over the years,but its not too far from 'normal' color for this stuff.Ironwood(Hophornbeam) mallet next to it,with similar grain pattern.

Next 3 pic are Hard Maple & Walnut router bit box I made in 1995.Gives a good idea what you can do with this stuff :coolsmile:
 

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Thistle said:
That is called Fiddleback Maple (Maple with very tight curl like that has been prized for violin fronts & backs for centuries),Tiger Maple,Curly Maple among other names.Both Hard & Soft Maples are known to have it,though Hard Maple is more common. The grain pattern also appears in Red & White Oak,Black Cherry & Black Walnut on occasion.Prized for veneer,not often found in large pieces,normally scattered throughout the main trunk or random branches.Especially when the tree is under some form of stress,growing irregularly.Can appear when the branch or trunk has a slight bend,or near a knot,but not always.


Here's a piece of Bur Oak I found years ago.Managed to cut a few small pieces that didnt crack & split during drying.Was a medium sized tree about 40 ft tall growing at edge of farm field,part of lower trunk had barb wire fencing embedded in a couple places.Very hard & even harder to split with maul due to the heavy cross grain.Beautiful stuff when smoothed & polished though.The varnish has yellowed a bit over the years,but its not too far from 'normal' color for this stuff.Ironwood(Hophornbeam) mallet next to it,with similar grain pattern.

Next 3 pic are Hard Maple & Walnut router bit box I made in 1995.Gives a good idea what you can do with this stuff :coolsmile:

Soft maple curly is much more common than hard Maple curl!
 
Beautiful work Thistle. Thanks for the clarification. I"l have to be on the look out and save some pieces to make something for the grandkids. Be safe.
Ed
 
Ask Jay.
 
Backwoods Savage said:


WOW Now thats not silver! Awsome piece. curly hard maple there a guitar makers top 2 list! Fiddleback is the right!
 
PapaDave said:
Not sure of the type of Maple, but Thistle obviously knows about wood ( you too SJ).
It's also known as "quilted".

Quilte is not the same, related but qulted has it's own look.
 
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