Exploring methods for prevention of oxidative stain in soft maple

Abstract

Interior gray enzymatic oxidative stain for white woods such as maple has plagued the wood industry for many years because methods that have been found to reduce stain are hard to scale up to industrial levels. We examined possible alternative treatments to eliminate stain in soft maple (Acer rubrum L.), and found that exposure to sulfur dioxide gas eliminates interior gray stain and that staining might occur at different temperatures depending on the age of the logs. Comparing sawn and split boards showed that both eliminated surface stain, but sawing eliminated it to a greater depth. A mild kiln schedule also seems to reduce staining, and this solution may be easier and more economical to implement on an industrial scale, both domestically and internationally, because no other processing is required.

Citation

Wiemann, Michael C.; Bergman, Richard D.; Knaebe, Mark; Bowe, Scott A. 2009. Exploring methods for prevention of oxidative stain in soft maple. Research Paper FPL-RP-654. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 7 pages.