So, Is Soft Maple a Hardwood or Not?
If you're standing in a lumber yard wondering is soft maple a hardwood, the short answer is a definitive yes, even though the name makes it sound like it might be as flimsy as a piece of balsa wood. It's one of those confusing quirks of the timber world where the common name doesn't really describe the physical reality of the material. In the world of botany and woodworking, the "hardwood" label has more to do with the tree's seeds and leaves than how easy it is to dent with your fingernail. ...