What's the market like for red maple lumber these days?

[Greyhound]

I need to clear a bunch of understory red maples from my woods. Most of it is small and scraggly and only good for firewood, but there will be some larger, straighte, clearer logs.   I thought there may be an "artisanal" market for some of it. 

[btulloh]

It's an excellent secondary wood used in furniture for things like drawer sides and backs and such.  Interchangeable with tulip poplar. Also used to make paintable furniture. Generally has to be clear for those uses. 

[WDH]

The wholesale market for soft maple lumber is very strong.  Until recently, it was selling for more than hard maple.  Last week's Hardwood Market Report had soft maple (generally red maple) for kiln dried, rough, FAS grade, tractor trailer load quantity at $2.27/bf.  Hard maple (generally sugar maple) was at $2.57/bf. 

[Greyhound]

Wow!  I think I know what I'll be thinning out of my woods this Spring.

[YellowHammer]

Soft and hard maple are on the list of "very hard to get wood."  Places that used to ship 1/2 a semi load a week are now shipping 2 semi loads a week.  I can't even get had maple from conventional lumber distributors.  The demand has gone up, and so as has the price. 

[Raym]

The wholesale market for soft maple lumber is very strong.  Until recently, it was selling for more than hard maple.  Last week's Hardwood Market Report had soft maple (generally red maple) for kiln dried, rough, FAS grade, tractor trailer load quantity at $2.27/bf.  Hard maple (generally sugar maple) was at $2.57/bf.

I recently had to purchase 300 bf of soft maple from my local wholesaler for some upcoming jobs and had to pay $3.30 a foot