Hickory vs Maple for Laser Engraving: Which One Should You Buy?
Hickory boards for laser engraving compared by thickness and size, with maple details marked Not stated where no maple listing is featured.
On this page
Top picks at a glance
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- 1
1/8” x 6” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for Crafts9.4/10View on Amazon - 2
Maple Hardwood Planks9.5/10View on Amazon - 3
ROBOTIME 3mm Plywood 6 Pcs9.4/10View on Amazon - 43/4” x 8” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for CraftsView on Amazon
- 51/2” x 4” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for CraftsView on Amazon
- 61/2” x 2” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for CraftsView on Amazon
- 7
Maple Hardwood PlanksView on Amazon
A maker planning signs, plaques and gift pieces wants hardwood that engraves cleanly and fits the shape of the project. This comparison looks at hickory vs maple for laser engraving through the hickory boards featured here, and states plainly where maple details are missing from the featured listings, so the choice rests on stated specs rather than guesses.
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Verdict: Pick the wide hickory board for broader pieces and the narrow hickory strip for slim pieces, since those are the sizes the featured listings state. Maple has no featured listing here, so hold off on maple until a maple listing states its thickness, size and finish.
Machines on the list
1/8” x 6” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished
A wide unfinished hickory board for laser engraving; skip it for narrow strip work.
Pros
- Listed for laser engraving, as well as woodworking and scroll saw use
- Solid hardwood board with an unfinished surface
- Wider 6” board suits broader pieces than the narrow strip
- Sold as a single piece
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No safety certification is stated
- Thickness of 1/8” only; the listing states no cut guidance
- Bullets are empty, so the listing gives no extra project guidance
1/4” x 2” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished
A narrow unfinished hickory strip for laser engraving; skip it for broader pieces.
Pros
- Listed for laser engraving, as well as woodworking and scroll saw use
- Solid hardwood board with an unfinished surface
- Thicker 1/4” board than the 1/8” board
- Sold as a single piece
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No safety certification is stated
- Narrow 2” width; broader pieces need the wider board
- Bullets are empty, so the listing gives no extra project guidance
Other machines to compare
3/4” x 8” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for CraftsCheck price on Amazon- 1/2” x 4” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for CraftsCheck price on Amazon
- 1/2” x 2” x 12” Hickory Solid Hardwood Unfinished for CraftsCheck price on Amazon
Maple Hardwood PlanksCheck price on Amazon
Side by side
| Spec | Hickory 1/8 x 6 x 12 | Hickory 1/4 x 2 x 12 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQ Score | 56 | 54 | Raw totals from the product scores |
| Thickness | 1/8” | 1/4” | Thinner board and thicker strip |
| Board size | 6” x 12” | 2” x 12” | Wider board and narrow strip |
| Pieces | 1 | 1 | Single piece per listing |
| Material | Hickory solid hardwood, unfinished | Hickory solid hardwood, unfinished | Same material and finish stated |
| Laser use | Laser engraving stated | Laser engraving stated | Named in each title |
| Warranty | Not stated | Not stated | No warranty term in either listing |
| Safety | Not stated | Not stated | No safety certification stated |
Specifications as published on each listing, collected 2 November 2026.
What hickory vs maple for laser engraving comes down to
The featured listings are hickory boards from Cherokee Wood Products, and no maple board is featured alongside them. That gap shapes the whole comparison: hickory thickness, size, material and finish can be stated from the listings, while maple thickness, size and finish are Not stated here. A reader who wants maple should treat any maple claim in this article as missing, not as a win for hickory, and should check a maple listing before buying.
Hickory enters the comparison as solid hardwood, unfinished, in the sizes the listings state. Maple enters only as the other side of the keyword, with no board, thickness or finish stated in the featured listings. The sections below compare what the hickory listings state, and mark maple details as Not stated wherever a maple figure would be needed.
Thickness and size
The wide hickory board lists a thickness of 1/8” and a size of 1/8” x 6” x 12”. The narrow hickory strip lists a thickness of 1/4” and a size of 1/4” x 2” x 12”. Thickness and width are the clearest stated differences between the featured boards: the wide board is thinner and broader, while the strip is thicker and narrower.
Width decides which pieces fit: the 6” board suits broader pieces, while the 2” strip suits slim pieces. Neither listing states cut guidance, so no cutting claim is made for either board here. Engraving use is stated for each board in its title.
Finish and material
Each listing states hickory solid hardwood with an unfinished surface. An unfinished surface leaves finishing choices to the maker, and the listings state no finish, stain or sealant, so no finish claim is made for either board. The material name is the same across the featured listings, so material alone does not separate them; size and thickness do.
Safety and ventilation
For ventilation and fire safety, treat engraving hardwood like other wood engraving work: stay with the machine while it runs, ventilate the work area, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Never laser PVC or vinyl. Neither listing states a safety certification, so no safety rating is claimed for either board.
Choose the wide hickory board if
- You want a broader board for wider pieces.
- You want the thinner 1/8” board.
- You want a single unfinished hickory piece for laser engraving.
Choose the narrow hickory strip if
- You want a thicker 1/4” board.
- You want a slim 2” strip for narrow pieces.
- You want a single unfinished hickory piece for laser engraving.
Choose maple when a maple listing states its thickness, size and finish. No maple listing is featured here, so this article makes no maple pick.
Stay with the machine while it runs, ventilate, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Never laser PVC or vinyl. See laser safety.
Project Match
- Broader signs and plaques: the 1/8” x 6” x 12” hickory board, for its stated width.
- Slim pieces: the 1/4” x 2” x 12” hickory strip, for its stated narrow width.
- Pieces needing a custom finish: either board, since each listing states an unfinished surface.
- Maple projects: Not stated, since no maple listing is featured.
FAQ: lasers and CNC
Is maple featured in this comparison?
No maple board is featured. The featured listings are hickory boards, so maple thickness, size and finish are Not stated here.
Which hickory board suits a wider piece?
The 1/8” x 6” x 12” board, since its listing states a 6” width, while the strip lists a 2” width.
Are the featured boards finished?
No. Each listing states unfinished solid hardwood.
Can the featured boards be cut as well as engraved?
The titles state laser engraving use, and neither listing states cut guidance, so no cutting claim is made here.
Related: alder vs poplar for laser engraving, basswood vs cherry for laser engraving, diode vs CO2 laser for wood and how to choose a laser engraver.
