Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Oct 25, 2007 06:28pm | #1

   Don't let the name fool you--"soft" maple is plenty hard. But the plain sawn vs. quarter sawn distinction might be a consideration, as the latter is obviously likely to be more stable.

   Whether there is more curl in the plain vs. quarter sawn seems to vary from piece to piece (in soft maple, at least). The most consistent figure seems to occur in those "halfway" areas where the growth rings are roughly 45° with respect to the surface.

   West Penn Hardwoods lists 4/4 quarter sawn hard maple, by the way. My experience with wood from them is that their rough lumber is a genuine 1" thick, so with a little bit of picking and choosing you may be able to get some good 7/8" boards.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   BobSmalser | Oct 25, 2007 10:06pm | #2

   Most eastern maple marketed as "soft maple" is Red Maple, which is still harder and stronger than the western Bigleaf Maple I mill, sell to the musical instrument trade, and use regularly for applications similar to yours. You'll have no structural problems.

   
   

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   Edited 10/25/2007 3:06 pm by BobSmalser

1. 
   xmike | Oct 26, 2007 12:19am | #3

   Thanks to Bob and Steve, both for your answers.

   It looks like some places that don't offer 5/4 stock do offer 6/4 stock.  I'm considering ordering 6/4 so that I can be sure of getting 7/8" dead flat finished stiles and rails.

   I hope that that isn't a huge waste of wood!

    

    

1. 
   oldusty | Oct 26, 2007 02:30am | #5

   Hi Mike ,

   I Would use 4/4 , finished off at 13/16" . I use  quite a bit of Eastern Soft Maple and as has been said , it's pretty darn hard .I select it for the color and wild grain .

      The M & T joint is tough but imo  your frame dimensions mentioned are puny and need some beefing up . what hinges will you use ? The 2" may be too small for a Euro cup bore and the 1/2" joint lip ?

       2 1/2" stiles and perhaps 3 1/2"  rails would offer much more structural integrity . You do use and waste and pay  more than you need if you use 6/4 .

    dusty

1. 
   xmike | Oct 26, 2007 05:40am | #6

   Hi Dusty,

   The 2" rail and stile does work with Blum hinges - did that with the bathroom cabinets that I made.  However, those were "slightly" smaller doors - 23" x 13.5".   My plan is to use Blum hinges again. 

   I'll put your suggestions into my sketchup design and see what they look like.  If it looks good, I may well go that way. 

   However, the br cabinets doors have 3/16" mirrors hung in them and have not shown any sign of coming apart after nearly a year of hard use.

   Glad for the input - I'll look at the design and see how wider looks.

   Mike D

3. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 26, 2007 01:53am | #4

   I have used both but to be truthful I do not use Maple that much.

   I never could tell the difference when working with it in my projects..

   Lets see what others say..