Other Names:
Red Maple, Silver Maple
Uses of Soft Maple:
A large portion is used in flooring, furniture, pallets and crates, shoe lasts, handles, woodenware, spools, bobbins and novelties.
Description:
The heartwood is usually light reddish-brown, but sometimes considerably darker. The sapwood is commonly white with a slight reddish-brown tinge.
Range:
The three maples that comprise the soft maple category are: red maple, silver maple, and boxelder. In general, all three species grow throughout the Eastern United States.
Physical Properties:
The wood of all the soft maples is similar. Although 25 percent softer than the hard maple, soft maple is suited to most of the same uses. The wood possesses about the same finishing properties as hard maple and is suited for enamel finishes and brown tones. Soft maple is moderately heavy (38lbs./cu.ft.).
