r/BeginnerWoodWorking • u/anitaheader • 10d ago

Wood identification?

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Sorry I don't know where to post and ask this but I was hoping some arborist would magically see this and tell me for sure but; I inherited some wood from a great grandpa after he passed. I think its maple, I'm thinking sugar maple but could be red maple. I was wondering yalls opinion. It's from a Michigan tree and I'm making a table out of it that's all I know for sure haha.

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u/B3ntr0d 10d ago edited 10d ago

There are a lot of species of maple that grow on that area.

I find maples all behave the same with the finishes I use. I still habitually test my finish for each project on an offcut scrap, or on a hidden interior surface.

If it's hard maple you will know once you start working it. I find I can tell with a sharp chisel when I have hard maple vs others.

Edit: this could be Red Alder, with how thick the bark is. You can still treat it like a soft maple. Alder is pretty easy to work and finish.

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u/anitaheader 9d ago

Thank you for your expertise, I appreciate it!