Soft Maple
Soft maple is the sensible maple — 80% of hard maple's hardness, none of the burning and blunting drama. For painted work or any project where you'd otherwise reach for hard maple but don't need the extra density, soft maple is faster to work, cheaper, and just as clean. The figured versions — quilted, curly — are genuinely stunning and often more affordable than hard maple figure.
- Assuming 'soft' means low quality — soft maple outperforms many domestic hardwoods in hardness; 'soft' is relative to hard maple only
- Staining without a pre-conditioner — like all maples, soft maple absorbs stain unevenly; blotching is a real risk without a wash coat or pre-conditioner
- Passing up figured soft maple because it's not 'hard maple' — the quilted and curly figures on soft maple are just as dramatic and typically less expensive
Pale tan to light grayish-brown, often nearly indistinguishable from sapwood. Lacks the creamy white of hard maple's sapwood. Often features spalting (dark fungal streaks) in reclaimed stock, which is highly valued.
Significantly easier to work than hard maple while still producing clean, crisp results. Less prone to burning under router bits. Takes paint and stain well. Frequently used as a more manageable stand-in for hard maple in furniture and cabinetry. Often sold simply as 'maple' in lumber yards.
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| North America | Widely available |
| Europe | Regional / select dealers |
| Australia / NZ | Specialty importers only |
| Southeast Asia | Specialty importers only |
| South America | Specialty importers only |
| Africa / Middle East | Specialty importers only |