Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Acer campestre Trade Name Field maple Family Name Aceraceae Common Names Ahorn, Erable, European maple, Field maple Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, North America, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, United States Common Uses Brush backs & handles, Decorative veneer, Furniture , Joinery, Paneling , Turnery, Woodenware Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Distribution Overview In the U.K., it is native to Cumbria and Durham and south from there, but not Scotland or Ireland. Found throughout mainland Europe except Greece, Norway and Sweden, and Northern Russia and west through Asia Minor to the Caspian sea. Heartwood Color White Tan White to cream Light tan Weathers and ages to a light tan color. Sometimes treated with chemicals to produce Harewood, an attractive silver-gray color with tan streaks Sapwood Color White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy May be wavy or curly Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Even or uniform Smooth Fine Luster High High, especially on quartered surfaces Natural Durability Perishable Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles Non-durable Very little natural resistance Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Discoloration Staining Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Little degrade if dried properly Careful kiln-drying at a fairly rapid rate is recommended to preserve the natural whitish color Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The only type of maple that is native to Britain, the tree is too small to yield timber for commercial consumption. The wood is similar to Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), but it is hard. Supply of Field maple is scarce. Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate Medium effect Boring Fair to good results Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Very good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Moulding Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small movement in use Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good planing properties A reduced cutting angle is recommended for planing material containing curly and wavy grain Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood The sapwood responds well to preservative treatment, but the hardwood is rather difficult to treat. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Very good Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good staining properties Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Heavy Crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.55 Weight 41 34. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.55 References HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Dept. of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buck. HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co., Inc., Fresno, California.