Author Topic: Sugar Maple for a Ceiling (Read 445 times)

DWyatt · « **on:** October 07, 2019, 06:16:27 AM »

Yesterday, after getting home from the Paul Bunyan show a friend of mine came over to help process a whole bunch of sugar Maple that he will be using as ceiling paneling on the vaulted ceiling in his house that he is remodeling. The lumber was the first stuff cut with my LT40 when I got it and was the first run through the kiln with the Nyle unit. Lets say between stress ridden, small logs and a huge learning curve all around, it was not perfect. However it was more than perfect for what he needed. We planed to 3/4", edge jointed, and ripped to 6 1/2" and 4". Most boards were around 11' and we ended with 275 bf of finished lumber after 4 hours of work. We emptied 6 of the giant bags on the Grizzly 5 hp dust collector. My hands feel like they ran that much lumber through the jointer today, I knew there was a reason I didn't like cutting longer lengths.

YellowHammer · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2019, 06:53:29 AM »

Nice, sugar maple makes great looking stuff, but is not the easiest to work with.

DWyatt · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2019, 07:49:27 AM »

Quote from: YellowHammer on October 07, 2019, 06:53:29 AM

Nice, sugar maple makes great looking stuff, but is not the easiest to work with.

It most definitely is not easy to work with or easy on the machines. Keeping the 20" planer with a mouthful taking 1/8" off per pass was plenty. This stuff sat in log form for almost 18 months before it was cut and dried so there is a lot of character, minor spalting and lots of bug holes, it will make some beautiful paneling though.

Anderson · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2019, 08:14:09 AM »

I for one (and others I'm sure) would love to see some pictures after the paneling is installed!

DWyatt · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2019, 12:43:06 PM »

There will be pictures once it is installed. You will have to be patient though, he is doing the entire remodel by himself and travels plenty for work. Being 2+ hours away makes it hard for me to get down and help.

Southside · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2019, 01:08:15 PM »

I know the feeling of doing it all alone. Told my wife I would have the re-model done by August - luckily I never said which August.

GeneWengert-WoodDoc · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2019, 06:03:26 PM »

A small word of caution. The ceiling area in many homes is a bit hotter than the rest of the locations. Being hotter, the humidity is automatically lower. So, be very certain that the wood is quite dry, or else it can shrink in place. Nails or screws will not stop this shrinkage. Of course, if it is too dry, it can swell excessively in the summer. In fact, rather than one full expanse of a ceiling, consider breaking it into sections. This is also why tongue and groove is used...when the wood shrinks, the tongue is exposed, but not a deep crack. A v-groove helps the appearance when the wood shrinks.

low_48 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2019, 11:31:46 PM »

Not going to be an easy install. Every fastener will require a hole drilled first.

Magicman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2019, 09:41:52 AM »

Not Maple, but I have been very successful with T&G Poplar and Ash for ceilings.

1X6 T&G "V" groove Poplar.

1X6 T&G Ash on the left of the beam.

A Pickling Stain was used on both ceilings.

WDH · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2019, 10:00:29 AM »

I bet that you put some of that pickled bologna juice in that stain too to act as an insecticide.

Magicman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2019, 03:02:05 PM »

You should know.

Have you had any fleas lately??

WDH · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2019, 04:04:11 PM »

I do.

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