I’m planning on building some shelving and have decided to use maple. I’ve used the sagulator and either soft or hard maple will work. I would prefer to use soft maple based on what I have read about workability. I’ve called a few local lumber yards and when I asked if their maple is hard or soft the response is that maple is a hardwood. Some are not aware that there is soft maple and hard maple. I’ve read some info on how to tell the difference but that means visiting the yards, etc. I’ve worked quite a bit with Red Oak and I’m wondering how hard maple workability compares. If they are similar I’ll just buy what the yards have. If hard maple is harder to work than Red Oak then any ideas on how to get the info out of the folks at the yards?
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Replies
try this
I suggest you take a look at
http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/differences-between-hard-maple-and-soft-maple/
for a discussion of hard vs soft maple. Given the Janka hardness ratings, look up the hardness for red oak and do your own comparison.
Hard to tell the difference hard to soft by looking according to the article.
If your lumber yard has the species of their wood, that will tell you what it is.
Forrest
Reply
Basically, all Maples are hardwoods. Explain to the folks at the yards that soft and hard Maples are of two different species of maple. Maybe then they'll figure it out.
Hard vs Soft Maple
I did. Also provided some examples of each species. A couple thanked me for the education. I was expecting to get and not give this type of info from/to lumberyard (not HD or Lowes) employees. One lumberyard person pulled an invoice and all it said was 'Hard Maple'. I went to a local Hard Wood supplier....employees were really helpful and explained a lot....most yards don't let you walk around on your own.....this place let me climb to the second tier.
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