Maple (European) / Sycamore
Botanical name
Acer pseudoplatanus
Origin
Europa
Other names
Bergahorn, Erable Blanc, Acero Bianco, Great Maple, Sycamore, Arce Blanco, Sycomore, Sicomoro, Harewood
Notes
This species from Western and Central Europe is present in France until approximately an altitude of 1500 meters.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
| Color: |
white |
| Sapwood: |
not demarcated |
| Texture: |
fine |
| Grain: |
straight |
| Interlocked grain: |
absent |
| Note: |
White wood with slight yellowish shades and sometimes veins or greenish stains. The silver figure is well visible. Woods with wavy grain (wavy sycamore) are very sought-after for stringed-instrument making. |
PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL AND ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES
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(*: at 12% moisture content, with 1 MPa = 1 N/mm²)
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NATURAL DURABILITY AND TREATABILITY
| Funghi (according to E.N. standards): |
class 5- not durable |
| Dry wood borers: |
susceptible - sapwood not or slightly demarcated (risk in all the wood) |
| Termites (according to E.N. standards): |
class S - susceptible |
| Treatability (according to E.N. standards): |
class 1 - easily permeable |
| Use class ensured by natural durability: |
class 1 - inside (no dampness) |
| Species covering the use class 5: |
No |
| Note: |
This species is listed in the European standard NF EN 350-2. Only sapwood is sensitive to dry wood borers attacks but it is not separate and wood is used with sapwood. Hence wood must have a preservative treatment. |
SAWING, MACHINING AND ASSEMBLING
| Blunting effect: |
normal |
| Sawteeth recommended: |
stellite-tipped |
| Cutting tools: |
tungsten carbide |
| Peeling: |
good |
| Slicing: |
nood |
| Note: | Sawing and planing may be difficult because of the presence of irregular grain (wavy sycamore). In this case it is recommended to reduce the feed rate and the cutting angle. |
| Nailing / screwing: |
good but pre-boring necessary |
| Gluing: |
correct |
