Sugar Maple (Curly / Flame Maple variant)
Acer saccharum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Northeastern North America and Eastern United States
- Hardness
- 1,450 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Non-durable to Slightly Durable; susceptible to decay and insect attack if exposed to moisture.
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Grain Pattern
Straight-to-wavy grain with pronounced curly or flame (tiger stripe) figure running perpendicular to the grain direction.
Color & Appearance
Creamy white to light reddish-tan sapwood with subtle greyish-brown streaks near the heartwood boundary; golden-tan cast overall, darkening slightly with age to a rich amber.
Hardness (Janka)
1,450 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable to Slightly Durable; susceptible to decay and insect attack if exposed to moisture.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $10.00 - $18.00 per board foot for live-edge figured/curly grade slabs
- Wood Age Estimate
- Freshly milled to recently dried lumber slab (less than 2 years old), showing fresh mill saw marks and rough-sawn surface bark edge.
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and sustainably harvested in North America, readily available with FSC certification.
Common Uses
Fine furniture, musical instruments (violin backs, guitar necks), table tops, cutting boards, turnings, architectural millwork, and decorative veneers.
Geographic Origin
Northeastern North America and Eastern United States
Workability
Generally works well with hand and power tools, though high figure increases risk of tearout during planing or routing. Glues, turns, and sands exceptionally well.
Finish Recommendations
Dye stains or penetrating oils (such as boiled linseed oil or Tung oil) highlight the curl figure dramatically, followed by shellac, lacquer, or clear polyurethane topcoat.
Notable Features
High visual chatoyance (shimmering 3D optical effect under light due to curl figure); dense and heavy with moderate burning risk under dull cutters.
