Wood selection

[Dave Westover]

Starting a new project and am thinking about using maple for its finishing qualities. Ive been told it tends to twist, is that right? I dont know much about it, so what should I know about working with it?

thanks

[John Browne]

ANy wood can be twisted, depending on how the tree grew and how it was dried after sawing. But in general Eastern maple has nice straight grain, machines well, and takes a finish well. Figured boards are subject to tear out when you plane them.

Western maple can be all over the map, you can get great figure. Not as common for general WW as eastern, though.

If you buy a couple of hundred BF and it's all twisty, do yourself a favor and send it all to me. :D I'll take it off your hands for free...