Birdseye maple is a type of hardwood that is valued for its distinct pattern that resembles tiny eyes. This unique pattern occurs naturally in some maple trees and is prized by woodworkers for its decorative appearance. But is this beautiful hardwood actually expensive compared to other types of maple or other hardwoods? Let’s take a closer look at birdseye maple prices.
What Makes Birdseye Maple Special?
The unique pattern in birdseye maple is the result of small, densely packed knots that form in the wood. These knots are clusters of twisted wood fibers that create tiny circular or oval shapes when the wood is cut. The contrast between the darker knots and lighter surrounding wood creates an eye-like appearance, hence the name “birdseye.”
This distinctive pattern only occurs randomly in some maple trees. It is not present uniformly throughout the tree or even within a single board. This scarcity means that birdseye maple is relatively rare compared to plain maple. The supply is limited to only certain trees that happen to exhibit the birdseye characteristics.
In addition, the quality of the birdseye pattern varies. Wood can be classified as having slight, medium, or heavy birdseye characteristics. Heavy birdseye is the most pronounced and coveted form.
Beyond its ornamental pattern, birdseye maple possesses physical qualities similar to other hard maple woods. It has a fine, even texture and is dense and strong. However, the twisted knotty fibers can impact workability. Birdseye maple is more difficult to turn on a wood lathe compared to plain maple. The wood’s hardness also makes it difficult to sand smoothly.
Overall, it is the distinctive birdseye pattern combined with the limitations in supply that elevate birdseye maple above more common hardwoods.
How Is Birdseye Maple Priced?
Like most specialty woods, birdseye maple commands a premium price over more common lumbers. But there is a wide range of prices depending on the source, quality, and form of the wood.
Birdseye maple lumber, slabs, boards, turning blanks, veneers, and other forms are sold by numerous specialty wood suppliers. Prices can start around $5-10 per board foot for lumber containing slight birdseye figures. The price increases for medium to heavy birdseye: $15-30 per board foot is common for high quality stock with pronounced birdseye patterns.
Rare, finely figured pieces with heavy birdseye can fetch over $100 per board foot. Burls, crotch sections, and highly curated slabs with unique birdseye patterns are the most expensive.
In addition to board foot pricing, birdseye maple veneers tend to be sold by the square foot. These thin sheets used for decorative surfaces range from $6-12 per square foot on average. Lumber cores with veneered birdseye maple facings are also popular for furniture and cabinetry.
Turning blanks and other specialty cuts like knife scales command premium prices for birdseye maple. Small blanks may sell for $20-50 each depending on size and figure quality.
Finally, finely crafted birdseye maple products like furniture, musical instruments, and wood turnings that highlight gorgeous birdseye patterns are priced at a significant margin above the raw wood costs. Unique, museum-quality birdseye pieces can sell for thousands of dollars.
Price Factors
When evaluating birdseye maple prices, the most important factors are:
- Birdseye figure – The pronounced “eyes” demand higher prices. Heavy figure with a high density of birdseye knots brings the highest value.
- Cut and grain pattern – How the wood is cut affects the orientation of the birdseye. Curated cutting for maximum visual impact drives premium pricing.
- Source – Source locality and tree origin influences price for connoisseurs. Vermont and Wisconsin are considered top sources.
- Grade – Higher grades with few natural defects cost more than lower grades.
- Rarity – Rare pieces with unusual patterning or burl sections cost exponentially more.
These factors result in a huge range for birdseye maple pricing. But in general, the more pronounced the birdseye figure, the higher the cost per board foot.
Birdseye Maple vs. Other Hardwoods
How do birdseye maple prices compare against other domestic and exotic decorative woods? Here is a general comparison:
| Wood Type | Average Price per Board Foot |
|---|---|
| Birdseye Maple | $10-30 |
| Plain Maple | $3-7 |
| White Oak | $3-5 |
| Cherry | $5-9 |
| Walnut | $7-10 |
| Mahogany | $4-8 |
| Purpleheart | $6-12 |
| Bubinga | $7-15 |
| Zebrawood | $8-20 |
| Bocote | $10-25 |
| African Blackwood | $30-60 |
| Brazilian Rosewood | $40-200 |
This comparison shows that birdseye maple generally commands premium pricing in the mid-range for decorative exotic woods. It is significantly more expensive than domestic maple, oak, cherry, and other common North American hardwoods. But birdseye maple is still affordable compared to ultra-rare tropical species like Brazilian rosewood that can sell for hundreds of dollars per board foot.
Factors Driving Costs
A few key factors contribute to the higher costs commanded by birdseye maple:
Scarcity
The limited supply of birdseye maple keeps prices high. Only certain trees exhibit the signature birdseye figuring, and it may only be present in a portion of the log. The rarity and unpredictability of the patterning makes birdseye maple far less abundant than plain maple.
Labor
Properly sawing and grading birdseye maple is labor intensive. Workers must identify logs and boards with birdseye figure and carefully process the lumber to highlight the patterning. This specialized effort increases processing costs.
Yield Loss
The twisting birdseye knots often lead to loss of usable lumber compared to plain maple logs. Birdseye maple boards may be downgraded due to defects around knot areas. Lower yields mean higher prices for quality stock.
Special Handling
Birdseye maple requires extra care in drying, storage, and transport to prevent degradation. Rough handling can fracture the brittle birdseye knots. Proper handling adds expense compared to plain maple.
Skill and Time
Crafting furniture, musical instruments, turned objects, and other products from birdseye maple demands great skill and time. The intricate birdseye patterns require artful design and workmanship. This labor and skill drives the high value of finished birdseye products.
Is Birdseye Maple Overvalued?
The premiums commanded by birdseye maple sometimes lead critics to claim the wood is overvalued. However, several factors support the higher costs:
- Unique aesthetics – The striking birdseye patterns have significant decorative value for many applications.
- Prestige – Birdseye maple is prized as a status symbol and statement piece.
- Durability – It retains its beauty and strength for decades.
- Artistic potential – In skilled hands, birdseye maple can be transformed into stunning works.
- Scarcity – Rarity always inflates prices for coveted materials.
- Skill required – Proper selection, processing, and fabrication requires hard-won abilities.
For craftsmen, artists, designers, musicians, and wood enthusiasts, birdseye maple remains highly desirable despite its costs. While not cheap, this rare maple wood offers exceptional decorative impact and artistic potential in finished pieces.
Conclusion
Birdseye maple occupies a unique niche in the world of decorative hardwoods. While more expensive than common woods, it is priced below ultra-rare exotics. Factors like limited supply, challenging workability, and intensive labor contribute to birdseye maple’s higher costs. However, the wood’s stunning visual qualities continue to drive demand. For many applications, birdseye maple’s distinctive beauty and artistic potential justify its premium prices.
