Handling & safety. Has been reported to cause skin irritation, runny nose, and asthma-like respiratory effects.
Properties
| Latin name | Acer pseudoplatanus |
|---|---|
| Species type | Hardwood |
| Origin | Europe and southwestern Asia. |
| Density | 615 kg/m³ |
| Janka hardness | 4,680 N |
| Modulus of rupture | 98.1 MPa |
| Elastic modulus | 9.92 GPa |
| Crushing strength | 55 MPa |
| Specific gravity | 0.62 |
| Porosity | Diffuse-porous |
| Tangential shrinkage | 7.8% |
| Radial shrinkage | 4.5% |
| Volumetric shrinkage | 12.3% |
| T/R ratio | 1.7 |
| Durability (EN 350) | Class 5 |
Density and mechanical properties are typical values at around 12% moisture content. Shrinkage figures represent total dimensional change from fibre saturation to oven dry. Individual boards vary.
Description
It machines and turns well, but like many maples it can burn under high-speed cutters, and it can blotch if you try to stain it heavily. Clear coats, dyes and controlled toners are usually the most flattering approach if you want colour without patchiness.
Durability is low, so sycamore maple is an interior timber: furniture, joinery, turning and musical instruments. It’s a “clean modern” hardwood—excellent when you want light colour and refinement rather than bold grain.
Anatomy
- Porosity: Diffuse-Porous
- Vessel Arrangement: Solitary and radial multiples.
- Vessel Description: Small to medium; moderately numerous.
- Parenchyma: Banded (marginal).
- Rays: Both narrow and wide; normal spacing.
Durability
- Durability Class: Class 5 — Perishable
Rated as non-durable to perishable in regard to decay resistance.
Odor
No characteristic odor.
Uses & Availability
Common Uses
Veneer, pulpwood/paper, boxes/crates/pallets, musical instruments, turning, small specialty items.
Pricing & Availability
Very moderately priced where available domestically in Europe. Figured pieces (curly, quilted) are likely to be much more expensive.
Conservation
- CITES Status: Unlisted
Lookalikes & Substitutes
Sometimes confused with other European maples such as field maple (Acer campestre) and Norway maple (A. platanoides). Sycamore maple tends to have more variation in ray width.
Working the timber
Fairly easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though it has a tendency to burn when machined with high-speed cutters such as routers. Turns, glues, and finishes well, though blotches can occur when staining — a pre-conditioner, gel stain, or toner may be necessary.
Finishing & gluing
Sycamore maple is pale and fine-textured, which makes it look superb under clear coats—but it’s prone to blotching when stained, so use a washcoat or move to dye/toner colouring for control. It also burns with high-speed cutters; remove any scorch fully before finishing or it will lock in as a darker ‘shadow’ under clear coat. On figured ripple/quilt, scraping before finishing preserves chatoyance and avoids fuzzy, light-scattering torn grain.
Gluing is usually reliable with PVAs and UF, but the density means freshly prepped surfaces matter—scuff-sand planed faces and glue soon after machining. Avoid over-clamping tight joints: it’s easy to starve the glue line on a fine-grained maple. For curved laminations where creep is a concern, UF or epoxy is typically better than standard PVA.