Spalted Maple (Sugar Maple or Red Maple)
Acer saccharum / Acer rubrum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 950 lbf (Medium) to 1450 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Non-durable, highly susceptible to fungal decay and insect attack, especially given the existing spalting process.
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Grain Pattern
Straight to irregular grain with prominent spalted figure, featuring dark zone lines caused by fungal coloration.
Color & Appearance
Creamy white to light golden-brown background color, heavily contrasted by dramatic black, grey, and bluish spalted zone lines. Low to moderate natural luster, darkens slightly with age and finishes.
Hardness (Janka)
950 lbf (Medium) to 1450 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable, highly susceptible to fungal decay and insect attack, especially given the existing spalting process.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- Moderate to High, approximately $8.00 to $15.00+ per board foot depending on the uniqueness and intensity of the spalted figure.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated seasoned rough-cut lumber, likely dried within the last 1 to 5 years based on surface oxidation and rough-sawn texture.
- Sustainability Status
- Not CITES listed, IUCN Least Concern. Widely available from domestic sustainably managed North American forests.
Common Uses
Decorative veneer, fine furniture, turning (bowls, hollow forms), cabinetry, custom accents, musical instruments.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, but spalted areas can be punky, soft, or brittle, requiring careful stabilization or hardening agents during processing.
Finish Recommendations
Wipe-on poly, lacquer, or hardening oils (like Danish oil or epoxy stabilization) work best to protect the softer punky areas and enhance the contrast of the spalted patterns.
Notable Features
Distinctive dark fungal zone lines (spalting). Softer and more fragile in areas where decay fungi have actively broken down the cellular structure.
