9 Types of Maple Wood for DIY Projects (with Pictures)

Maple is a wonderful hardwood species employed for tons of woodworking assignments and items and is typically employed for flooring, furnishings, and Do-it-yourself projects. There are distinct species of maple and every single a single is distinctive. One particular issue they all have in common is their workability—most maple varieties are easy to perform with and have a stunning appearance.

In this article, we’ll appear at 9 varieties of maple wooden for Diy initiatives. Continue reading through to learn far more about the a variety of maple sorts, what they are suitable for, and how they search.

The 9 Types of Maple Wood

Hard Maple

1. Sugar Maple

Color Reddish-brown
Janka Hardness Scale 1450

Sugar Maple, also known as Hard Maple, is the strongest maple wood according to the Janka Hardness Scale. In a variety of areas about the world, it’s regarded as the only challenging maple variety that most individuals generally approve of.  It is quite dense and so can be hard to operate with, but it’s quite tough and has an aesthetic attractiveness that folks really like.

It is darker in colour than other maples, typically pale brown or beige, and you can use this maple for Do it yourself household furniture, cabinetry, musical devices, or toys. It is h2o, shock, and decay-resistant, producing it ideal for indoor and outside use.

Pros
  • Durable
  • Dense
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Water, shock, and decay-resistant
Cons
  • Can be difficult to work with

2. Black Maple

Color Deep dark brown/ almost black
Janka Hardness Scale 1180

Black Maple is yet another maple species in the difficult maple group, even so, some take into account it hard although other folks really do not. Nevertheless, it has a Janka Hardness Scale larger than soft maples. It has excellent workability for each hand and machine instruments and even Do-it-yourself newcomers can use this maple for their projects.  You can use it to create furnishings, workbenches, musical instruments, or intriguing picket sculptures. It has a deep darkish brown, virtually black color that stands out from other maple species.

Pros
  • Good workability
  • Beautiful autumn foliage
  • Interesting color
Cons
  • Can be pricey

Soft Maples

3. Red Maple

Color Reddish-brown/white or golden
Janka Hardness Scale 950

Purple Maple is fascinating to work with thanks to its stunning shade and grains that can from time to time be wavy. Crimson Maple is typically reasonably priced, but kinds with wavy grains are much more pricey than straight-grained versions.  It is quite effortless to operate with, but you need to be cautious when using equipment as it can burn if you use large-velocity cutters. It’s ideal for scaled-down Do-it-yourself projects like producing containers, crates, pallets, musical devices, or other wood knick-knacks. It is not decay resistant, so make confident you use correct stains and finishes after the developing component of the undertaking is completed.

Pros
  • Easy to work with
  • Affordable
  • Stunning color
Cons
  • Can burn when using high-speed cutters
  • Wavy grained varieties can be expensive
  • Not decay-resistant

4. Silver Maple

Color White/light-beige/reddish brown
Janka Hardness Scale 700

Silver Maple is identified for its mild-beige/white shade that can occasionally even grow to be reddish-brown. It is an additional soft maple species that is straightforward to work with, producing it great for all DIYers, especially beginners. This is another maple sort that can melt away even though in speak to with high-velocity equipment, so be careful!

Silver Maple is generally straight-grained but can be wavy as well. You can use it for Diy crates, packing containers, home furniture, or other fascinating wood items. Guarantee you are donning protective gear while operating on this Maple species, as it can lead to pores and skin discomfort.

Pros
  • Easy to work with
  • Great for DIY beginners
Cons
  • Can burn when using high-speed machinery
  • Can cause skin irritation while being worked

5. Striped Maple

Color Light brown/reddish-brown
Janka Hardness Scale 770

Striped Maple is reasonably priced and can be utilized for a variety of Do it yourself initiatives and carving. It’s effortless to process and operate with, each with machine and hand equipment. Striped Maple is one more species that’s typically straight-grained but can be wavy and finishes properly, although blotches could look although staining and you may want toners to even out the coloration soon after staining. It is suited for carvings, household furniture, components, bins, or other modest wood assignments.

Pros
  • Easy to process
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Blotches may appear while staining
  • You might need toners to even out the color

6. Bigleaf Maple

Color Off-white/light brown with golden or reddish hues
Janka Hardness Scale 850

Bigleaf Maple is also frequently used for woodworking and Do-it-yourself tasks. It is easy to work with, and it glues, finishes and stains nicely. It can be straight-grained, burled, or wavy and utilized for carving, Do it yourself furniture, packing containers, cabinetry, architectural millwork, musical devices, or picket family items.

It’s rather tough and sturdy, but of program, can not be in comparison with challenging maple versions. Bigleaf Maple is an affordable alternative for anybody who enjoys Do-it-yourself, and DIYers with any ability amount can use it.

Pros
  • Easy to work with
  • Glues, stains, and finishes well
  • Durable
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Cannot be compared with hard maple varieties

7. Box Elder

Color Pale white/beige with yellow-greenish hues
Janka Hardness Scale 720

Box Elder is praised for its coloration and workability. It’s a comfortable maple selection that is straight-grained and has a fantastic texture. Folks use it for carving and Do-it-yourself tasks this kind of as decorative objects, turned objects, crates, or boxes. It is best to use anything made from Box Elder inside since it has an disagreeable smell when wet and is susceptible to insect assaults and decay. It’s an cost-effective species, so newbies can use it until they choose to deal with much more sophisticated assignments.

Pros
  • Good workability
  • Interesting color
  • Great for beginners
Cons
  • Prone to insect attacks and decay
  • Has an unpleasant smell when wet

What can I make with maple wood?

There are many techniques you can use maple wood to produce fascinating items. People use hard maple versions for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, veneers, and a lot much more. Softer types of maple can be used to make packing containers, crates, household objects, sports gear, and other small knick-knacks. People go for maple wood because it’s effortless to perform with and looks stunning, so if you have a new Do it yourself task before long, try out utilizing some maple versions.

Is maple a cheap wood?

Maple wooden is normally moderately-priced and inexpensive, depending on the variety. It’s generally cheaper than other hardwood species like Oak or Cherry. Difficult maples are far more expensive than softer types. Wavy or curled maple will be a lot more costly than straight-grained, but normally expenses anyplace from $6 to $14 for every foot.

What’s the difference between hard and soft maple?

The most significant difference between difficult and comfortable maple is the hardness and density of the wood. Hard maple species are denser and have a increased ranking on the Janka Hardness Scale. Also, hard maple kinds are typically lighter in shade than delicate maple. Delicate maple kinds are light-weight and grow more quickly than tough maple, and more difficult varieties typically have tighter grains.

Conclusion

There are many outstanding maple versions on the industry that you can use for a bunch of diverse Diy tasks. It’s fairly, simple to function with, and usually quite sturdy. Also, most maple types are cost-effective, so you can do numerous assignments at as soon as or just check out each variety to see which one particular operates very best for you.


Highlighted Picture Credit history: optimarc, Shutterstock

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