Silver Maple (Soft Maple)
Acer saccharinum • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Generally straight and fine-textured with a consistent pore structure. Close-grained with indistinct growth rings, occasionally showing ripple marks or slight figure in the end grain cross-section.
Color Description
Sapwood is a pale creamy white to light grayish tan; heartwood is a light to medium reddish brown. The wood typically lacks the high luster of Hard Maple and may gray or yellow slightly over time.
Hardness Rating
700 lbf (Soft)
Durability Rating
Non-durable; susceptible to rot, decay, and insect attack (especially beetles) if left exposed to moisture.
Common Uses
Firewood, paper pulp, crates, pallets, interior furniture components, musical instruments (limited), and turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Central and Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$2.50 - $4.00 per board foot (standard lumber grade)
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly cut to 6 months old; the bark is intact and the end grain shows minimal checking/cracking and light oxidation, suggesting it has not seasoned for long.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and not CITES protected. Generally considered a sustainable, fast-growing species.
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It planes, sands, and glues well, though it is softer than Sugar Maple, making it prone to fuzzy grain if tools are not sharp.
Notable Features
Often lacks a distinct scent. Known for its rapid growth and relatively low density compared to other maples. The bark on the logs shown is thin, grayish-brown, and breaks into long thin flakes in older samples.
Finish Recommendations
Accepts most finishes well, including oils, polyurethane, and lacquer. Can be prone to blotching when stained, so a pre-stain conditioner is recommended.
Identification Confidence
Medium-High; identified based on the uniform, diffuse-porous end grain, light cream color tone, and the distinctive scaly/flaky bark visible on the adjacent log sections.