What makes maple "flame"?

[lkngro]

What is the natural (?) phenomenon that makes maple "flame" with the cool 3D stripes. What makes it "quilt"?

 

[mongo2]

One of life's little mysteries, but it's pretty.

 

[godofthunder59]

Flamed maple is quatersawn that is how the flamed grain is exposed.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

What is the natural (?) phenomenon that makes maple "flame" with the cool 3D stripes. What makes it "quilt"?

It's all about how the fibers run within the wood. With plain looking woods, all the fibers run straight. Woods with flame or other cool patterns, the fibers lay in a wavy pattern, some, a very tight wavy pattern. The best way to see this is to look at the wood from the edge instead of from the top.

 

[Yerf Dog]

Born that way.

 

[Deleted member 92857]

I believe it also has to do with environment, including location of the wood on the tree and the amount of water available during the growth of the tree. I love highly figured wood.

 

[Chasarms]

I believe it also has to do with environment, including location of the wood on the tree and the amount of water available during the growth of the tree. I love highly figured wood.

There may be something to that, but you can find two Maple trees standing side by side, and one may show figuring and the other may not.

 

[standupright]

this guy seems to be on to something - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Dr. Kramer’s research combines experiment, biophysical theory, and computer models to study the transport of plant hormones and their role in plant development. Auxin—a hormone involved in many aspects of tree development—is synthesized in growing leaves and transported downward through the branches and trunk. An excess or deficiency of auxin causes the cells of wood-forming tissue to rearrange, giving rise to the characteristic grain patterns of mature wood.......

 

[Aspidites]

What makes maple "flame"?

A match.

 

[251]

What is the natural (?) phenomenon that makes maple "flame" with the cool 3D stripes. What makes it "quilt"?

Genetics, disease, too much/too little water, cold/warm Winters. It looks pretty but, it takes great patience & very sharp tools to mill & work patterned grain & figures without ripping & checking.

 

[vbasscustom]

it also has to do with stress on the wood. if the wood is bent as it grows pressure is put on the fibres and they will begin to "bend" giving the wavy curl pattern.