Maple (Curly/Tiger Maple)
Acer saccharum • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Wavy or curly grain perpendicular to the growth direction, creating a three-dimensional 'tiger stripe' figure. The grain is generally straight in the primary direction but distorted to create the curl figure.
Color Description
Heartwood is typically a creamy white to light reddish brown, while the sapwood (most commonly used) is nearly white. It possesses a high natural luster and strong chatoyance in the figured areas. It tends to golden/yellow with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,450 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Non-durable to perishable; very susceptible to rot and insect attack if used outdoors or in damp conditions.
Common Uses
Musical instruments (mainly guitar tops and violin backs), high-end furniture, cabinetry, flooring, billiard cues, and decorative veneers.
Geographic Origin
Northeastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$15.00 to $35.00 per board foot depending on the intensity of the figure.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern processing (last 5-10 years) based on the clarity of the finish and the lack of deep oxidation or mechanical wear.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; generally considered sustainable and widely available from FSC managed forests.
Workability
Fairly easy to work with machine tools, though figured areas are highly prone to tearout during planing. It glues, turns, and finishes well, though staining can be blotchy without a pre-conditioner.
Notable Features
Distinguished by its chatoyance, where the stripes appear to move as the viewing angle changes. Maple is also prized for its acoustic properties in stringed instruments.
Finish Recommendations
Clear topcoats like lacquer or polyurethane are standard. To make the figure 'pop', many use a dilute dye followed by sanding back, or a simple oil finish (tung or linseed) followed by a film-forming topcoat.
Identification Confidence
High; the tight horizontal 'curl' figure combined with the specific light cream/gold color and fine pore structure is characteristic of Acer saccharum.