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Boring Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Acer rubrum Trade Name Red maple Family Name Aceraceae Common Names Carolina red maple, Drummond red maple, Maple, Red maple, Scarlet maple, Soft maple, Swamp maple, Water maple, White maple Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Textile equipment, Truck bodies, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Questionable Widespread Secure in many areas of its range Relative endangerement is based on the number of occurences of the species globally May be rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant The species covers a wide range with no major threats Distribution Overview Red maple is one of the most widely distributed trees in eastern North America Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple White Green/grey Reddish brown Pale brown White to cream Light brown Greenish to greyish Faint purplish hue Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink White to yellow Wide sapwood Whitish Pinkish Grain Straight Closed Figure Wavy Even Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Variable (figure) Straight Wavy Variable figure Other figure May be wavy or curly Closed Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Fine Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) The wood is not resistant to attack by decay causing fungi and insects, and should not be be used in exterior applications. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Ring Shakes Wetwood Ring failure Honeycombing possible Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Requires adequate air-flow to prevent blue staining Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Product Sources Red maple is ranked second to Sugar maple in popularity, and is the most valued of the three leading soft maples. It is generally less expensive than Sugar maple, and is readily available in the low price range. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Good results Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly difficult to glue Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly poor mortising properties Expected number of mortised pieces out of one hundred yielding fair to excellent results = 34 Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Possible if prebored Holds nails well Fair nailing properties Expected number of nailed pieces out of one hundred free from complete splits = 58 Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good planing properties Average number of pieces out of one hundred reported to yield perfect results during planing = 41 Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant to preservative treatment Fairly or moderately resistant to impregnation Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Difficult to sand (expect < 50 out of 100 good to excellent results) Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing characteristics are fairly good. (Percent of screwed pieces expected to be free from complete splits = 61 Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good Good results Number of turned pieces out of one hundred reported to yield fair to excellent results = 76 Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling No drying degrade No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Average number of unbroken pieces out of one hundred = 57 Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact strength) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Crushing strength = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Although Red maple is considered to be a member in the soft maples group in the lumber market, it is about 5% to 7% heavier than the other soft maples Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7784 12862 psi Crushing Strength 392 980 psi Density 38 lbs/ft3 Hardness 982 lbs Impact Strength 31 36 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3411 6218 psi Shearing Strength 1634 psi Stiffness 1344 1572 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 11 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.42 0.42 Weight 37 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 547 904 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 27 68 kg/cm2 Density 608 kg/m3 Hardness 445 kg Impact Strength 78 91 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 239 437 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 114 kg/cm2 Stiffness 94 110 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.77 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.42 0.42 Weight 592 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Arno, J. 1992. Acer rubrum - Red maple. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Press Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Pages 19-20. Betts, H.S.,1959,American Woods- Maple,USDA Forest Service, American woods Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research HMSO, 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. Kaiser, J. 1989. Wood of the Month - Maple: The Star of Autumn, the Sweetness of Spring. Wood of the Month Annual, Volume 1, Supplement to Wood and Wood Products, Page 37-38. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85