In article . com,
says...
I've always wondered if the figuring can be attributed to any specifc
condition of the tree. I always though maybe some burl like growth
might signal quilting or a very wind blown/bent tree might have some
tigerring. Let us know if you "figure" anything out.

One nice aspect about Maple is that the figure tends to be deep within
each board so you should be able to find it pretty easily. I know with
QS White Oak you can plane a 1/4" off and lose all the figure. I've
resawn nice looking boards only to find no figure in the middle.

I wonder if it matters the direction of the cut through the log. Maybe
you take a slice first and try splitting it in different directions
looking for a figure pattern. Sorta cut it like a pizza.


Quarter sawing will typically produce the best and most uniform effect
if a log holds figure(curl). The exception to this is quilted Maple, as
it shows its best, if flat sawn.
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All the best,

Michael Mastin
Curly Woods
McKinney, TX
http://www.curlywoods.com
(469)742-0097