Maple Heart Wood
Maple Heart Wood
(OP)
Does anyone know where I can find design values for "Maple Heart" Wood? I'm trying to check 3x8 planks (laid flat) for a construction load and can't find anything in the NDS manual or from an internet search. I'm not sure what grade the planks are, or even if this type of wood is usually visually graded like every other species.
Thanks,
Jason
Thanks,
Jason






RE: Maple Heart Wood
From the Wood Handbook, page 1-7:
"Heartwood and sapwood are similar in appearance to hard
maple: heartwood of soft maple is somewhat lighter in color
and the sapwood, somewhat wider. The wood of soft maple,
primarily silver and red maple, resembles that of hard maple
but is not as heavy, hard, and strong.
Soft maple is used for railroad crossties, boxes, pallets,
crates, furniture, veneer, wooden ware, and novelties."
Unfortunatley there are no other references in the handbook. Not sure if that helps, but you never know...
As a disclaimer, I'm no wood expert, I just worked a few years at the Forest Products Lab. They are, by the way, very much experts and open to contact for questions such as yours.
RE: Maple Heart Wood
http:/
Even at it's best, it does not have particularly good structural properties. Suggest making a conservative estimate of the properties, apply the appropriate adjustment factors and seeing what you get.
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Maple Heart Wood
I recommend you broach this topic over at the wood design and engineering forum under materials engineers if you are going to be using the material in a significant structural capacity.