EUROPEAN MAPLE
Family: Acaraceae

Commercial Names:
A. campestre: Field maple; A. platanoides: Norway maple, European maple, Bosnian maple (UK); erable (France); ahorn (Germany).

Distribution:
Throughout Europe including the UK, Asia Minor and Russia.

General Description:
The grain is generally straight but often curly or wavy grain is present. Fine textured.

Color:
Creamy white when fresh felled with a natural luster on quartered surfaces. Tends to weather and mature into a light tan color.

Weight:
A. campestre is 690 kg/m3 (43 lb/ft3) and A. platanoides 660 kg/m3 (41 lb/ft3).

Specific Gravity:
.69 and .66.

Mechanical Properties:
•  Bending strength - Medium
•  Crushing strength - Medium
•  Stiffness - Low
•  Resistance shock loads - Low
•  Steam bending - Good

Seasoning:
Dries slowly without undue degrade, but is inclined to stain. If the original white color is to be preserved it needs to be kiln dried fairly rapidly and carefully. There is small movement in service.

Working properties:
It is easy to work with both hand and machine tools but with a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. The cutting angle should be reduced to 15 degrees for planing curly or wavy grained stock. Nailing may need pre-boring; the wood glues and stains well and can be brought to an excellent finish.

Durability:
The heartwood is non-durable. The sapwood is subject to attack by common furniture beetle and is permeable for preservation treatment. The heartwood is resistant.

Uses:
•  Turnery wood
•  Brushbacks
•  Domestic woodware
•  Furniture and joinery work
•  Selected stocks are sliced for highly decorative veneers for paneling
•  Treated chemically to produce hardwood with an attractive silver-grey color in which the veins appear tan colored