Soft Maple

Specs

Common Names

Soft Maple, Silver Maple, Pacific Maple, Oregon Maple

Scientific Name

Acer rubrum

Origin

North America

Appearance

Soft Maple heartwood ranges from nearly white to a pale yellow-brown color. It has a straight grain pattern with a fine to medium texture. The wood has a low to moderate natural luster.

Avg. Dried Weight

34-41 lbs/ft3 (545-655 kg/m3)

Janka Hardness

700 lbf

Modulus of Rupture

8,500 lbf/in2 (58.6 MPa)

Elastic Modulus

1,230,000 lbf/in2 (8.48 GPa)

Crushing Strength

5,690 lbf/in2 (39.2 MPa)

Shrinkage

Radial: 4.8%, Tangential: 9.4%, Volumetric: 14.7%, T/R Ratio: 2.0

Durability

Rated as perishable, susceptible to decay and insect attacks.

Workability

Soft Maple wood is relatively easy to work with. It machines well and has good dimensional stability. It holds nails and screws satisfactorily and glues well. The wood finishes well, although care should be taken to avoid blotching when staining. It can be stained to resemble other hardwoods, such as Cherry or Walnut.