Common Names:   Carolina red maple Drummond red maple Maple Red maple Scarlet maple Soft maple Swamp maple Water maple Purchase Maple Soft

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
Although the species may be rare at the periphery of its range, Red maple is quite widespread, abundant, and secure. The species consists of numerous individuals, which cover a wide range with no major threats (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the species globally).

Distribution
Red maple is reported to have the greatest north-south distribution of all species along the East Coast. It is found in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec in Canada. In the United States, its range includes Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The tree usually grows in mixed hardwood forests and thrives well in wet or moist soils of stream banks, valleys, swamps, and uplands and occasionally on dry ridges.

Product Sources
Red maple is ranked second to Sugar maple in popularity, and is reported to be the most valued of the three leading soft maples. It is generally less expensive than Sugar maple, and is readily available in the low price range. 

Tree Data
The state tree of Rhode Island, Red maple, like other soft maples, is reported to grow very rapidly during the first 20 to 30 years, and is popular as decorative and street trees. The mature tree measures about 60 to 90 feet (18 to 27 m) in height and about 30 inches (80 cm) in diameter. 

Sapwood Color
The wide sapwood is white in color.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is light brown and may occasionally show a grayish or greenish tinge or a faint purplish hue.

Grain
Straight but occasionally curly or wavy. The wood is described as close-grained. 

Texture
The wood is fine textured.

Odor
The wood has no distinct odor or taste. 

Ease of Drying
The wood is described as easy to dry. It is reported to be easier to dry and more stable than Sugar maple. Drying requires adequate air-flow to prevent blue staining.

Drying Defects
Ring failure and honeycombing may occur because of wetwood.

Kiln Schedules
T8 - D4 (4/4); T6 - D3 (8/4) US

T/R Ratio
2.05
This ratio is more meaningful if it is used together with actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The wood is not resistant to attack by decay causing fungi and insects, and should not be be used in exterior applications. 

Resistance to Impregnation
Fairly or moderately resistant to impregnation. The heartwood has been found to be fairly difficult to treat. 

Planing
Red maple is reported to respond well to planing, and is comparably easier to work than hard maple because of its softness. (Average number of pieces out of one hundred reported to yield perfect results during planing = 41).

Turning
Because it is close-grained, Red maple is reported to turn rather well. (Number of turned pieces out of one hundred reported to yield fair to excellent results = 76). 

Boring
Soft maple is reported to have good boring properties. (Expected number of bored pieces out of one hundred producing good to excellent holes = 80).

Mortising
The material is reported to have fairly poor mortising properties. (Expected number of mortised pieces out of one hundred yielding fair to excellent results = 34). 

Gluing
The material is reported to be fairly difficult to glue. 

Nailing
Nailing properties re reported to be fair. (Expected number of nailed pieces out of one hundred free from complete splits = 58). 

Screwing
Screwing characteristics are reported to be fairly good. (Percent of screwed pieces expected to be free from complete splits = 61). 

Sanding
Sanding properties are reported to be generally poor. (Expected number of sanded pieces out of one hundred with good to excellent surfaces = 37).

Steam Bending
The wood has satisfactory steam bending properties. (Average number of unbroken pieces out of one hundred = 57). 

Strength Properties
Although Red maple is considered to be a member in the soft maples group in the lumber market, it is about 5% to 7% heavier than the other soft maples. Its density is slightly higher than that of Black cherry, but well below that of Sugar maple. Bending strength of air-dried wood is high. Maximum crushing strength, or compression strength parallel to grain, is also high. It is moderately hard. Bird's-eye figure is reported to be rather rare in soft maple, but the wood may exhibit markings, which are often caused by impurities that enter the wood thorugh worm holes. Wormy soft maple is reported to be popular for furniture and wall panelling.