Soft Maple resembles Hard Maple but is not as heavy, hard or strong. In Michigan, Red Leaf Soft Maple is predominant. Its sapwood is white with less fleck than is found in trees from other regions. While Soft Maple can run wider than Hard Maple, it maintains a relatively straight grain, with the exception that “curly” is often more commonly found. The heart of Soft Maple trees is typically larger; although the color of the heartwood is lighter than that of Hard Maple.
Soft Maple is commonly found in furniture to include in the frames of upholstered furniture. While often used as a less expensive substitution for Hard Maple, Soft Maple is used in cabinets, mouldings, and other applications. Soft Maple is often stained to have a similar appearance as Cherry.
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