Why Birdseye Maple is a Great Choice for Building Beautiful Furniture?
Birdseye Maple draws its name from the “eyes” similar to the eyes of birds that develop in the tree when it is young. It is one of the rarest forms of maple trees, as a tiny fraction of the overall maple trees. The scientific name for it is Acer Saccharum and it belongs to the Sapindaceae family. Birdseye maple is not a distinct species or a distinct species of maple, but rather a unique growth anomaly found within hard maple (Acer saccharum). Birdseye maple is almost exclusively harvested from Acer saccharum.
Although it is extremely rare, it is increasing in popularity and is being used for a variety of woodwork projects. What makes this tree so rare is that its unique features and cultures cannot be replicated by humans.
It is worth mentioning it can vary greatly even amongst its own family and no two trees are alike. Some can have denser eyes, and some trees can have rose-tinted wood – while some can be cream-colored. The color variations, from cream to rose-tinted hues, add to the visual appeal and desirability of birdseye maple for different applications. This gives us a lot of options and different types of wood to work with. Exotic hardwoods are a thing of beauty. At Tropical Forest Products, we only provide our customers with the best hardwood timber the world has to offer.
This article serves as a comprehensive resource on birdseye maple, explaining its characteristics, types, and properties.
Introduction to Birdseye Maple
Birdseye maple is a truly unique and highly sought-after wood, instantly recognizable by the small, rounded “eyes” scattered across its surface. These distinctive eyes are actually tiny knots, reportedly caused when the tree attempts to start numerous new buds in response to unfavorable growing conditions. As the tree strives for more sunlight, it produces new shoots that are often aborted, leaving behind the characteristic birdseye figure. This phenomenon is almost exclusively found in hard maple, specifically Acer saccharum, although rare exceptions exist in other maple species. The result is a wood with a one-of-a-kind appearance and figure, making birdseye maple a prized choice for fine furniture, veneers, and other applications where beauty and uniqueness are paramount. Its beautiful, unique figure ensures that each piece of birdseye maple furniture or veneer is truly one of a kind, making it a favorite among woodworkers and collectors alike.
5 Features of Birdseye Maple
Not for nothing, such wood is a great choice for building beautiful furniture. Birdseye maple presents a dynamic visual effect, with a lively chatoyance that makes its surface appear almost three-dimensional when finished. The wood is characterized by numerous small knots known as birds eyes, which give it its distinctive and decorative appearance. Some of its features highly benefit a wide range of contractors’ projects. Get to know more about 5 of them.
1. Durability
It is high in density. Janka’s hardness of 700 lb/f makes it highly durable. It has a fine uniform and slight grain. Heartwood, which is a darker variant of the tree, is non-durable and is resistant to pervasive treatment. However, Sapwood, which ranges from white to golden brown, is permeable.
2. Stability
Stability comes from roasting it. Unfigured Birdseye Maple is less stable than the figured ones. This is because of the variation in density in the wood fiber.
3. Bending & Crushing Strength
The lumber has a high bending and crushing strength because of its medium stiffness. It is suitable for steam bending.
4. Workability
It glues well, and the wood is easy to work with. Because of the grains that are generally straight but could also be wavy or curly, it reduces the cutting angle. These characteristics make it ideal for furniture and craft industry. Therefore, there is a need for pre-drilling before nailing and screwing. Additionally, sanding is essential when working with birdseye maple to achieve a smooth finish and prevent tearout. On the plus side, it takes to stain and polish satisfactorily.
5. Grain & Texture
Birdseye Maple has an even and fine texture.
Uses of Birdseye Maple
Bird’s eye maple, a distinctive type of hardwood, is used to make millwork wood, furniture wood, turning wood, flooring wood, and guitar wood (Acoustic & Electric). Also, producers of veneers use it for making veneers. Birdseye maple is most commonly available in veneer form, though it is also sold as solid lumber.
Bird’s eye maple is sold in various forms, including boards and veneers, to meet different project needs. You can shop for birdseye maple at specialty shops or online retailers for your woodworking projects. Boards can often be cut to specific lengths (typically 46 inches or less) to save on shipping costs or reduce waste.
Besides, it is widely used for making stunning and aesthetic furniture, external joinery, and heavy-duty flooring. It is great for paneling, plywood, and veneering, and excellent for turning.
Today, it has its usage in musical instruments, picture frames, kitchen cabinets, furniture, jewelry boxes, and flooring. Are you looking for custom millwork? At Tropical Forest Products, you get it.
Availability and Sourcing
Bird’s Eye Maple is considered one of the rarest and most valuable types of wood, largely due to the specific and unpredictable growing conditions required to produce its signature figure. This wood is primarily sourced from Canada and the USA, where the climate and environment are ideal for the development of the birdseye pattern in hard maple trees. Because of its rarity, birdseye maple is often available only in limited quantities, and the quality can vary significantly from one supplier to another. Woodworkers and furniture makers typically find birdseye maple through specialty lumber suppliers, online retailers, or by visiting local woodworking shops that carry exotic woods. Whether you’re searching for eye maple lumber, veneers, or finished boards, it’s important to source from reputable suppliers to ensure you receive genuine, high-quality birdseye maple for your next fine furniture or woodworking project.
How expensive is it?
Birdseye maple wood’s cost depends on the grade specifications and market availability. It can also be affected by factors including eye size, eye density, NHLA Lumber Grade and face converge. As a thumb rule, high-quality furniture made of it costs 4-7 times higher than furniture made out of select white hard maple lumber.
Wide use in Furniture
Birdseye Maple is highly recommended for producing furniture with an antique look and feel due to its finish and veneer. It’s also a very popular choice of wood for making acoustic and electric guitars. It is also suited for heavy-duty flooring, laundry and dairy equipment, paneling, turning, and plywood.
TFP will get you the best quality figured and unfigured Birdseye maple that matches your imagination and aesthetic appeal.
Tropical Forest Products proudly collaborates with suppliers from Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Latin America, the USA, and Canada to get the best quality lumber at the best price. This enables TFP to deliver any quantity of lumber you need to meet your timeline. Call us today at (647) 494-8142.
Design and Craftsmanship
The unique figure and striking appearance of birdseye maple make it a top choice for woodworkers aiming to create fine furniture, guitar necks, cutting boards, and other decorative pieces. Its beautiful, eye-catching grain is especially prized in the making of high-end instruments, such as guitars, where both visual appeal and tonal quality are important. When working with birdseye maple, woodworkers often use sharp tools and careful techniques to highlight the wood’s natural figure and avoid tear-out, ensuring a flawless finish. Birdseye maple is also popular in veneers, allowing its unique character to be showcased on a variety of surfaces and furniture designs. Whether used for intricate inlays, elegant boards, or statement pieces, birdseye maple’s rare and beautiful figure continues to inspire creativity and craftsmanship in the world of fine woodworkin
