Sycamore or European maple is a beautiful clear wood with a white to cream color that turns pale yellow when exposed to daylight. To prevent this discoloration, special varnishes and/or bleaches are used. In general, the wood has an even structure. Due to a rather sharp delimitation of the growth rings, a fine stripe pattern can usually be observed on slice on quarter, and a modest flame pattern on the slice in crowns.

Sycamore is easy to work, both by hand and by machine.