Lime vs Maple

[tulok]

Hi to all,

 

I'd like to inquire from members with experience using these woods as to which has/is:

 

-finer/smoother grain

 

-able to hold and edge better

 

-more flexible

 

-harder/more durable

 

 

Thanks very much in advance guys

[jwvolz]

Maple wins on all accounts. 

[Jaager]

Rock/Sugar Maple this is certainly the case, and fortunately this is the species usually sold by lumber dealers.  Well worth using.

 

Water/Soft Maple is another thing altogether.  Not nearly as hard and can be brittle.  No data here on what other species of Maple are like.

[tulok]

Thanks for the info, Joe and Jaager

 

This is the maple I was contemplating on getting, any idea if it's the "hard" or "soft" maple based on the pictures?

 

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/maple_strip.html

[mtaylor]

I'm wondering if it's silver maple?   Hard, almost pure white.  Has been used as a substitute for holly.

[shihawk]

I have used a fair bit of maple from CMB and although i have nothing to compare it to i found it a a nice wood to work with  . Like all wood order a bit extra as there will be slight variations in color ,texture etc . Seems to hold an edge well and is relatively easily bent and  although i only used 0.5 for my final planking between wales i found it easier to work with than the cherry i was also using . 

[tulok]

Thanks Mark and Shihawk, I like the grain of this wood, it seems very fine.

 

Shihawk, I noted that you have also used cherry, is this particular maple as hard as cherry? Is it resistant to the "finger nail" test? 

[shihawk]

Not really familar with the fingernail test but i assume you mean that it can be marked if you push your nail into it . if so , yes it will mark fairly easily 

[NMBROOK]

I planked the underside of my SOTS in 4mm by 2mm maple from CMB.Yes it is hard and does like to dull cutting edges,however it is durable,especially compared to lime.I ordered more than necessary because you do get some strips with a wacky grain pattern that would not look right on a model.

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[tulok]

Thanks for the info shihawk, yes that was indeed what I meant by fingernail test

 

Nigel, thanks for chiming in with regards to the durability of maple and beautiful planking work on your SOS Sir, from my observation, it seems that CMBs Maple more or less has the same color as lime

[NMBROOK]

Hi tulok

Yes the maple from CMB is identical in colour to lime.Make sure you keep the two seperate in the work area to avoid potential mishaps  

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[Bill Hime]

Not sure where you are from but there is a large variety of maple here in the U.S. midwestern states. Maple is always included in the list of hardwoods. Good for furniture, cabinetry, and paneled doors. Silver Maple here is a very soft white wood, as trees were used extensively to line neighborhood streets in the 50's through the 70's because it grows relatively fast and provides alot of shade.

When I start my POF project, I will be using Maple. I love to work with it.

 

Sincere Regards,

 

Bill

[mischief]

My first choice is Holly then Maple

[mij]

I used Maple for the deck planking on my Xebec build.

It`s a very nice wood to work.

 

 Regards

 

 mij

[tulok]

Thanks for the detailed info guys, they are much appreciated