Knowing the Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood
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Time to read 2 min
Comparison of Sugar Maple, Soft Maple, and Beech Wood.
Sugar maple (also known as hard maple) is often compared to soft maples (such as red maple and silver maple) and beech because they are all hardwoods with similar applications in woodworking. Beech is harder than soft maple but nothing compares to Sugar maple especially for shuffleboard Tops.
Why is it important to know the difference?
A common question we receive at McClure Tables is what the difference is between hardwood and softwood tables. This question involves a mix of things, including production, material, and durability. We're happy to explain some of the differences. At McClure Tables, we build our shuffleboard tables the old-fashioned way. We do have a few models that the cabinets and styles lend themselves to softwoods like Pine or Cedar logs, like our Montana or Ponserosa Pine tables, see below.
We use maple wood that grows exclusively in North America. All of our custom tables are made using hardwood. Why is this important, you may ask? The material used on your shuffleboard table surface is vital when choosing the right table. Common softwoods such as poplar, alder, and soft maple can be economical. Still, they can affect the quality and durability of your shuffleboard table (e.g., dents, dings, or even accidental damage). This can occur from simple usage or dropped pucks. Don't let the decision to save some money affect your experience. Purchase knowing you're getting the smoothest, best surface available.
Here are a few reasons why we use hard maple wood:
Quality
Durability
Locally harvested and grown.
Hand-selected & graded
We make all of our tables by hand in our own shop. If you look around our blog or social posts, you will see lots of videos. Images and shots of craftsmen in action.
Do You Know What You're Really Getting?
Our main supplier, Pure Michigan, produces some of North Americas Finest Hard Maple wood.
Many manufacturers make the claim that their shuffleboard tables are produced with top quality hard maple, but you should do your own research. If you are looking for real maple wood for your table, ask yourself "does the manufacturer source wood from where maple trees grow?" The map to the right shows where North American maple trees (used in McClure Tables shuffleboards) grow. We encourage customers to research companies and their claims before purchasing a table. It gets better... If you're familiar with wood, we'll even let you grade it yourself using pictures of the wood before we begin producing your shuffleboard. We believe in being honest with customers, and that's why we're located in Michigan, where many maple trees grow in North America.
