Is Quilted Maple...

[jtg116]

stable enough to use for a neck? I've read somewhere that it may not be. It would be too bad as it makes a fantastic looking neck. Thanks

[pauliemc]

No. the greain is far too eratic.

Flamed maple is fine, or birds eye. But quilt tends to have way to much funk goin on in the tensions in the timber to be a reliable neck. Unless you laminate it with some other realy strong woods like ebony. But even then Id still be worried about it.

[Helldunkel]

stable enough to use for a neck? I've read somewhere that it may not be. It would be too bad as it makes a fantastic looking neck. Thanks

Quilt maple really does not really mean anything apart from describing a specific pattern / figurine which is found in a varietie of maple....

Here is an exemple of Maple Trees - Maple Tree Varieties

Keep in mind that woods which have a lots of figurine tend to be pretty unstable, especially maple...

a few things to consider:

1) is the wood perfectly seasoned?

2) is is quatersawn?

3) is is a hard or soft varietie that you will be using?

Based on the second question:

quilt refers to a type of "figure", It is seen on the tangential plane (flat-sawn)...

Flat sawn necks are by far much less stable then quatersawn necks so this is already a hint....

Then even if you decide to use it, you will have to make sure that the wood is properly seasoned...

Personaly I would never use quilt maple for building a neck...

Most quilt maples often come from a softer variety of maple, its not as strong as birdseye for exemple which is a hard rock maple varietie (Acer saccharum)...

[jtg116]

Thanks for the answers- I guess practical over looks always wins!