U.S. hard maple growth exceeds harvest in all major supplying states except Maine. In Maine maple harvests have been high relative to growth, mainly due to increased extraction for pulpwood and bioenergy supplies, and because maple-dominated hardwood forests are slowly being replaced by softwood forest types.

Where does the best maple wood come from?

The greatest concentration of sugar maples is in the Great Lakes area, though there’s a great many in Vermont as well. In fact, it’s the official state tree and is native to the Green Mountain Forest. Because it grows in abundance here, most of our craftsmen source wood locally.

Where does maple hardwood come from?

Maple trees are one of the most common species found in the hardwood forests of North America. There are many variations of the species but for practical purposes we separate maples into two types of lumber. The first is Hard Maple, (Acer saccharum), which many also refer to as Sugar Maple.

Where does hardrock maple grow?

eastern North America
Sugar maple, (Acer saccharum), also called hard maple or rock maple, large tree in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to eastern North America and widely grown as an ornamental and shade tree.

How can you tell the difference between a hard maple and a soft maple?

Hard Maple usually has a lighter, more uniformed color. While Soft Maple is typically darker, sometimes carrying hues of brown, red, or even grey. Look at the leaves. If the tree is still standing and yet to be harvested, take a look at its leaves.

How long can you leave a tap in a maple tree?

It takes at least forty years for a maple tree to grow before it is big enough to tap. On a good growing site, and if treated well, a maple tree can be tapped indefinitely.

How can you tell if wood is hard maple?

Is maple a hard wood to cut?

On the Janka hardness scale — a scale that ranks wood for hardness, hickory is the hardest of all domestic hardwoods, ranking at 1,820. Hard maple ranks 1,450, while red oak ranks 1,290.

Is maple considered a hard wood?

Maple trees are one of the most common species of hardwoods in North American forests. Typically, Hard Maple is most often known as Sugar Maple. 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).

Is Hard Maple rot resistant?

Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable, and susceptible to insect attack. Workability: Fairly easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though slightly more difficult than soft maple due to hard maple’s higher density.

What kind of wood does a hard maple tree produce?

Hard maple or sugar maple trees produce a high quality timber and yield maple syrup. The light-colored wood is used for furniture, flooring, cabinets, charcoal and firewood. Furthermore, some maples produce a bird’s-eye or curly wood, which is high prized for its beauty. Sugar maples have a very thick foliage which attracts many bugs.

How big is the heart of a hard maple tree?

The heart size of Hard Maple trees depends on many factors and is usually hard to predict before cutting. Because you can’t tell how big the heartwood is relative to the sapwood, Hard Maple is one of the more difficult species’ of hardwood timber to value while standing.

Can you use soft maple in place of hard maple?

The good news is that for many purposes, soft maple will be hard enough to be used in place of hard maple. Even though it is referred to as soft maple, it is only soft in relation to hard maple. A common measurement of wood hardness is the janka hardness test.

Which is more valuable a maple tree or a log?

Setting aside whether or not a log could sell as veneer, in general, the smaller the heartwood of a Hard Maple tree, the more valuable it is. The heart size of Hard Maple trees depends on many factors and is usually hard to predict before cutting.