Replies

1. 
   saschafer | May 29, 2008 05:59pm | #1

   Curly maple tends to have a lot of built-in stresses, so resawing is going to be somewhat hit-or-miss. As I've discovered, even resawing a 7/8" board to get a pair of bookmatched 1/4" panels isn't always successful.

   If you can get stock that is to your liking and is already close to the desired finished thickness, you'll probably have less heartache.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | May 29, 2008 06:21pm | #2

   Steve,

   Curly maple tends to have a lot of built-in stresses

   Dang, Uncle Stewart just stumbled onto a fine stash of curly maple and has offered some to me.  I was planning on resawing some of it into veneer so based on your post am a bit concerned as to its stability after resawing.

   I should think that this won't be all that big of a problem with the veneers, I hope.  Would I have stability issues when I mill solid rough boards of same?

   RegardsBob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   saschafer | May 29, 2008 06:28pm | #3

   Veneers are probably okay. Who knows what will happen with the rough stock? As with any other wood, you're probably fine if you only take off a little; the more you take off, the weirder things get.

   There's always the option of sending it all down my way....

   I just had some disappointment cutting down a standing dead red maple in the yard here--it has some nice, tight curl and lots of interesting spalting, but unfortunately, the decay has gone too far and pretty much all of the spalted stuff is too soft to use.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   RMillard | May 29, 2008 06:48pm | #4

   Finding suitable 12/4 curly maple may be a challenge. When I get 5/4 rough sawn curly maple, it is usually around 1 1/4"-1 5/16" thick, which will leave plenty of thickness to true it up, especially since I use only boards that are quite true from the mill, since they have proven their stability.

   Rob Millard

   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

1. 
   hankie | May 29, 2008 07:18pm | #5

   Thanks for all the input. As this is the biggest table top I have have done so far I think I will stick with the 6/4 material and try and get the truest boards I can. Colin

3. 
   dkellernc | May 29, 2008 10:39pm | #6

   Hankie - Not sure where you're located.  If you're anywhere near Pennsylvania, you might want to give Lou Irion or Myron Yoder a call at Irion Lumber.  Their specialty is wide boards in mahogany, walnut, cherry and curly maple, and their "maple prime" is really spectacular and runs about $15/b.f. for wide stock. 

   I suspect they'll tell you that they can get a 36" wide curly maple board, but they'll advise getting two or three book-matched boards instead, since the curly figure in maples occurs in the outer sections of the tree, and the center rarely has any figure at all.  Nice guys to deal with, and the prices are very reasonable for the upper end of the quality range.  I've seen curly maple 4"X4" leg stock at local woodworking stores in Raleigh, NC that worked out to $60/b.f., and was not quite as nice as the maple I purchased from Irion at $15/b.f.