Curly Maple (Tiger Maple)
Acer saccharum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1450 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Non-durable, highly susceptible to insect attack and decay if left untreated outdoors.
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Grain Pattern
Straight grain featuring a prominent wavy or 'curly' figure (often referred to as tiger stripe or ripple figure) perpendicular to the grain direction.
Color & Appearance
Medium amber to dark brown stain applied over a light creamy-white to golden-brown natural hardwood base, showing strong chatoyance and light-reflective tiger striping.
Hardness (Janka)
1450 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable, highly susceptible to insect attack and decay if left untreated outdoors.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- 10 to 25 dollars per board foot for figured/curly grades
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated to be relatively recently milled and finished, approximately 1 to 5 years old based on clean surfaces and modern finish application.
- Sustainability Status
- Abundant and of least concern on the IUCN Red List; widely available with good domestic supply.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, musical instruments (violin backs, guitar tops), cabinetry, decorative veneer, and architectural millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though the wavy curly grain can cause severe tearout during planing if blades are not extremely sharp and set to a shallow cutting angle.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains, dyes, and oil finishes exceptionally well; a dark dye followed by sanding back and applying a clear topcoat (like shellac, lacquer, or polyurethane) heavily accentuates the 3D tiger stripe figure.
Notable Features
Exhibits strong optical chatoyance where the striped figure appears to shift and move dynamically as the viewing angle or lighting changes.
