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.