This newsletter provides information about maple wood and its many uses: - Maple wood is strong, durable, and used to make furniture, tools, baseball bats, billiard cues, and electric guitar bridges. It also produces maple syrup and is used in whiskey production. - Maple trees symbolize strength in various traditions, including Judaism and Canada's military. The Talmud recommends planting maple trees to protect fields. - Higher quality maple planks used for furniture have unique names like burl wood and birdseye maple to distinguish grain patterns sought by designers.

1. December 2015 Newsletter No.10
ES
Tel 09-8650443 • Fax 09-8650614 • info@etsltd.co.il • www.etsltd.co.il
Elie Spivack - Artist Studio Creative Woodworking and Design
Consultant for architects and designers in the world of design, planning, manufacturing
and installation of unique furniture systems
To find out more about these and many other beautiful designs and handles, please visit
my website, or contact me in my studio!
Baseball, Billiards, Whiskey and Electric Guitars -
Give Me More of that Sweet Maple Please
Acer wood is more commonly known as maple. It has been sold for thousands of years as a strong, durable, hard
wood, which is used to manufacture a variety of furniture items and useful tools, which last for decades. The
maple tree belongs to its own family of trees, common in Asian countries, Europe and North America, and it
boasts 128 species. Dozens of them are considered endangered species and it is forbidden to cut them down or
use them. Consequently, the value of maple trees increases in relation to the quantity of items that are produced
using this wood.
The species vary and can be divided into those that grow to a height of between 10 to 45 meters and those that
are considered a type of bush and reach a height of less than 10 meters. The trees, especially those from North
America, are exposed to a number of harmful parasites which damage and destroy tens of thousands of them
periodically. In addition, there are certain mushrooms that cause considerable damage only to maple trees and
consistently feed off them. However, this does not really harm the maple tree’s legendary heritage, where in
certain places, even in Jewish tradition, it symbolizes strength and power.
The War God
The Canadian army perhaps did not invade other countries recently, and is not considered the largest army in the
world; however, it is without a doubt one of the most advanced and active armies in the western world. The maple
leaf is the central national symbol of Canada and is used as a symbol for all levels of army command. They say
that the maple tree characterizes the Canadian people, who are strong, withstand difficulties and harsh conditions,
diligent and make the most out of any situation, just like the maple tree. Other countries and traditions also view
the maple tree in this fashion. Even the Jewish tradition in the land of Israel views the maple tree, which also
grows in Israel, as a symbol of strength. The Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Beitza 15, quotes Rabbi Yohanan
as saying: “Someone who wishes his property to be sustained - should plant a maple tree there.” The Talmud
continues with the quote - “A field that has a maple tree - is not robbed, and is not obstructed and its fruits are
preserved.” The commentators pondered the benefits of planting the maple tree. According to Rashi, since this is
a large, important tree, its being planted in a field will publicize the field, and others will know that this is the field
of ‘so and so’, and even if he goes away for some time, no man can trespass his field. According to a different
commentary, the size, strength and tangled branches of the tree serve as a natural hedge to ward off animals and
humans.
Maple Tree Uses
The sap from maple trees is used to produce the legendary syrup, not the cheap imitation you purchase at the
supermarket, rather the genuine, thick syrup. Forty liters of quality sap are used to produce one liter of syrup.
However, the maple tree does not only supply the world with maple syrup. The strength of its branches has made
it the perfect wood for making baseball bats, and these are considered the best bats in the world. In addition, maple
wood has always been considered best for making billiard cues. Maple is also the wood used to manufacture the
bridge on electric guitars, because it is a tone wood, similar to mahogany, which carries sound waves in the optimal
manner. Even before we discuss its uses in the design of furniture, note that maple wood, with its dry wood chips,
is used to produce the famous Tennessee whiskey, better known as Bourbon.
Furniture design and the use of maple wood in the construction industry
We have previously mentioned the strength and hardness of maple and the fact that it is commonly used is
becauseit features amazing shades. Above all, it is important to note the way it is used by professionals in
comparison to other types of wood. Maple challenges many furniture designer, carpenter, or building contractors
in North America. It is strong and interesting, but it is difficult to find planks of wood with the same grains; which
generates an overt competition between the furniture designers. In general, the wood types are divided into two;
the first is characterized by spectacular grains and uniform shades. These planks are primarily designated for the
luxury furniture design industry and for veneers. The second type is characterized by ‘imperfect’ grains and is
used exclusively in the construction industry in North America.
The higher quality wood planks used for furniture design are given unique names that characterize each of them,
and enable furniture designers and carpenters distinguish between them easily. These include burl wood, birdseye
maple, flame maple, and quilt maple. In Israel, the term ‘red maple’ is used, which relates the wood shade and
not necessarily to real maple wood, rather a veneer, or real veneer alternatives that have undergone adaptation to
match the shade and examples of maple wood.