Flame Maple (Curly Maple)
Acer saccharum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 950 lbf (Medium)
- Durability
- Non-durable, poor decay resistance, susceptible to insect attack.
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Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a pronounced transverse wavy figure, commonly known as flamed, curly, or tiger stripe figure.
Color & Appearance
Medium brown stained or sun-aged appearance with visible chatoyance highlighting the tiger-stripe flame figure; natural sapwood is typically light cream with golden undertones.
Hardness (Janka)
950 lbf (Medium)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable, poor decay resistance, susceptible to insect attack.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- 15 to 30 USD per board foot for heavily figured curly maple stock.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated to be a recently prepared modern instrument body blank, roughly 1 to 5 years since being machined.
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern, widely available, not CITES listed, sustainably harvested in North America.
Common Uses
Electric guitar bodies, violin backs, fine furniture, cabinetry, and architectural millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Fairly easy to work with hand and machine tools, though figured grain can cause tearout during planing if not handled carefully.
Finish Recommendations
Dye staining followed by hand-rubbed oil, shellac, or a clear lacquer/polyurethane topcoat to emphasize the 3D flame figure.
Notable Features
High chatoyance (optical three-dimensional shimmering effect), excellent acoustic properties making it ideal for musical instruments.
