english sycamore wood

ENGLISH SYCAMORE WOOD

English Sycamore is a member of the maple family and is found throughout Europe.  This is the lumber that is used for violins, cellos, basses, and violas.  It is often quartered, a requirement for musical instruments.  English Sycamore is used extensively for architectural millwork projects calling for a very white colored lumber.  It can be highly figured with curl or what the British like to call ripple.

  • Often found with curl figure (ripple)
  • Larger logs usually quartered
  • Highly prized for veneers
  • Superior tonewood for classical instruments
  • Good substitute where thicker / wide white material is needed
  • Logs yield more sap wood
Shop for English Sycamore

Characteristics of English Sycamore

Origin of Wood Type England & Europe
Botanical Name Acer pseudoplatanus
Specific Gravity 0.61
Avg. Weight Per BF 3.17 lb/ bf
Color Range White – Cream
Rarity / Availability Readily Available
Typical Avg. Width 3″ to 24″
Typical Avg. Length 6′ to 16′
Avg. Waste Factor 0.5
Wood Uses Fine Furniture, Cabinetry, Architectural Millwork, Guitar Building / Instrument Making, Wood Turning, Wood Carving, Veneer, Flooring and many other uses
Lumber Grades Quartersawn, Quartersawn (Figured), Flitch, Veneer
Other Trade Names Sycamore, Great Maple, European Maple
English Sycamore Hardwood Flooring
English Sycamore Lumber Detailed Pricing

Sample Pictures of English Sycamore

Please Note: The photos below are examples of the species and may no longer be products available for sale.

All pictures of wood that appear wet, have been sprayed with denatured alcohol to show the natural color.  We use denatured alcohol because it evaporates and does not affect the moisture content.