How can you tell which maples have the “bird’s eye” pattern in then before cutting them?
Michael Dresdner: I’ll answer that with a quote: “I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said, ‘I don’t know.’ -Mark Twain (1835-1910).
Rob Johnstone: The short answer is…you can’t. The bird’s-eye effect is most common in hard maple, specifically sugar maple, but it is a random occurrence and is not predictable. (ref. Understanding Wood by R. Bruce Hoadley, Taunton Press)
