Search for

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Scientific Name Acer palmatum Trade Name Japanese maple Family Name Aceraceae Common Names Japanese maple Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Japan Common Uses Bedroom suites, Bobbins, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shuttles, Spindles, Spools, Stools, Sub-flooring, Textile equipment, Wooden shoes Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Distribution Overview Though it is naturalized in portions of the northeast U.S., it occurs naturally in eastern Asia, specifically Japan, China, and Korea. Heartwood Color Brown Red White Tan Pink Pinkish brown Pale brown Creamy tan Sapwood Color Red Brown White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy May be wavy or curly Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Fine Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack by the common furniture beetle Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules 5 - C3 (4/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Warping can be expected Highly prone to warping Ease of Drying Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Dries slowly with little degrade Substitutes Japanese maple is used as an alternative to Rock maple (Acer saccharum ) for certain applications Blunting Effect Moderate Moderate effect Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Tooth vibration may accompany sawing, and the wood is liable to ride on cutters Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent gluing properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Moves moderately in use Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring necessary Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is suggested Difficult to plane It has moderate blunting effect on cutting edges and is also liable to ride on cutters. There may also be some burning in working end-grain material Resistance to Abrasion High Highly resistant to wear Ideal for use in industrial flooring Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is permeable Difficult to treat with preservatives Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Stains very well Strength Properties Heavy Density = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 39 lbs/ft3 Specific Gravity 0.54 Weight 38 31. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 624 kg/m3 Specific Gravity 0.54 References Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.