When commissioning a piece of furniture, you owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about the various materials that can be used to create your ideal piece.

Source: Richard Oedel

I have a number of clients that opt to use hard maple in their furniture, likely because it’s very durable and finishes well. But other than that, how much do you really know about hard maple? Let me share a few reasons why this is a material that you may want to seriously consider using when commissioning a piece of furniture:

We frequently see hard maple used for flooring, especially ballroom and gymnasium flooring. This is because those surfaces get a lot of wear and tear and hard maple wood offers great strength properties and is able to withstand this. Butcher block countertops are also frequently made of this material. It’s also not uncommon to see kitchen cabinetry, stairs, furniture, moldings, and handrails made of hard maple wood.  But I use it for demanding applications where the strength or appearance are of utmost importance.

If you’re not familiar with the appearance of hard maple,  it has a distinguishable creamy white and reddish brown tinge to it. The darkness of the heartwood can vary greatly depending on the region from where the hard maple is coming from. You will notice that this type of wood has a fine, uniform texture and is typically straight-grained.

One reason why I enjoy working with hard maple is that it machines, glues, and stains well. It is more susceptible to shrinkage, so you will want to make sure that you partner with a furniture craftsman that is experienced in working with hard maple.

To learn more about different species of wood and projects that I have completed, please contact me, Richard Oedel, Fine Furniture Master.