Q&A

Is wormy maple good wood?

Is wormy maple good wood?

However, many people love the rustic charm and character that they give to a piece making it one of the most popular woods. Wormy maple is perfect for anyone who wants character from a hardwood, but will also suit contemporary or modern looks. Wood photo courtesy of the wood database.

What kind of wood is wormy maple?

Soft Maple
Wormy Maple (sometimes called “Ambrosia Maple”) is a grade of Soft Maple, specifically selected and sorted to show mineral streaks and color variations caused by the Ambrosia beetle. The beetle infests the live Maple tree, depositing larvae that bore small “worm holes” and discolor the wood.

Is wormy maple expensive?

Wormy Maple has long been a choice for fine, hand-crafted furniture, guitars, and turned decorative items. It’s also a great choice for doors. And Wormy Maple is economical. It is less expensive than many other popular wood species, including Select Alder, Select Pine, and Knotty White Oak.

What causes wormy maple?

They are actually caused by a beetle. Ambrosia beetles infest soft maple trees leaving a larvae behind that bore a shallow channel and deposit a fungus which causes the discoloration. Hence, you might also find people in the industry referred to wormy soft maple as ambrosia maple.

Is Ambrosia Maple hard?

Ambrosia Maple has a Janka hardness rating of 950.

What is ambrosia maple used for?

Ambrosia Maple
PHOTO
USES Suitable for furniture, joinery, ambrosia maple flooring,, turning, paneling, veneering.
COMMENTS The Ambrosia beetle that carries in the Ambrosia fungus on its feet into the wood (the fungus is food for the insect’s offspring when they hatch).

Is Ambrosia Maple a hard wood?

Ambrosia Maple is typically a soft maple tree that has been invested with a beetle. The beetle bores a small hole in the wood, bringing with it a fungus that gives the maple a unique color.

Why is it called ambrosia maple?

Comments: So named for ambrosia fungi, which is found in association with ambrosia beetles. The beetles bore into the trunk of the tree, bringing with them the ambrosia fungi, which subsequently stains and discolors the surrounding wood.

What does ambrosia maple look like?

Ambrosia maple is a type that’s displays a patchwork pattern of stunning gray streaks infused with maple’s usual clear white color and plain grain. It’s an astonishing effect provided by beetles and the wood gives you a whole new outlet of creativity.

Where do ambrosia maple trees grow?

Silver Maple rangers from the Great Plains east, excluding the Gold and AtlanticCoastal region. Red Maple grows throughout the eastern United States.

Can you use ambrosia maple for cutting board?

I use Ambrosia maple to make beautiful trays and boxes. Occasionally will use it for a cheese/Charcuterie board. Never a cutting board as it is too soft and you lose most of teh the beautiful colored streaks when you use the edge or end grain.

What is Wormy soft maple anyways?

The Ambrosia beetle causes the wormy pattern in Soft Maple lumber and the result is very unique looking lumber. The wood has beautiful brown and gray stripes with small worm holes. This lovely wormy pattern will not effect the final performance of the lumber in any negative way.

What is Ambrosia maple wood?

Ambrosia Maple is a domestic wood from North America. The colored and streaked wood offers a unique and charming appearance that captures the essence of nature at work. The wood is just regular maple that’s been visited by certain beetles who left holes that allowed a fungus to discolor the wood.

What is maple lumber?

Maple lumber is wood that comes from any of the trees in the genus Acer. This type of lumber can come from many different species within this genus, but the most common is Acer saccharumor sugar maple, also commonly known as rock maple or hard maple.