Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionSycamore Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Sycamore is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific namePlatanus occidentalis
Janka hardness770 lbf
Average dried weight34 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Sycamore?
Sycamore is a domestic hardwood species. Its natural range is Eastern United States. Common uses include furniture, flooring, interior trim, veneer, plywood, pallets, crates, particleboard, tool handles, other turned objects and paper pulpwood.
Scientific namePlatanus occidentalis
DistributionEastern United States
ShrinkageRadial: 5.0%, Tangential: 8.4%, Volumetric: 14.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
DurabilityDecay resistance is poor, ranging from non-durable to perishable, and insects attack it readily.
Sycamore colour, grain, and figure
As with maple, sycamore lumber is mostly sapwood, and most boards also show a few darker heartwood streaks. Boards that are entirely heartwood are not unusual either. Sapwood is white through light tan, and the heartwood is a deeper reddish brown.
The texture is fine and even, much like maple, and the grain is interlocked.
Working notes
Overall it works easily with hand tools or machinery, though interlocked grain can sometimes cause trouble when surfacing and machining. It also turns cleanly and takes glue and finish well.
Apart from the ordinary hazards of any wood dust, no other health effects are on record for sycamore.
Sycamore should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Sycamore
Best projects
Common uses include furniture, flooring, interior trim, veneer, plywood, pallets, crates, particleboard, tool handles, other turned objects and paper pulpwood.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Sycamore from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Sycamore FAQ
What is Sycamore best used for?
Common uses include furniture, flooring, interior trim, veneer, plywood, pallets, crates, particleboard, tool handles, other turned objects and paper pulpwood. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Sycamore beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Sycamore?
The buying section on this page links to any Sycamore Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.