When I was a kid we'd take a bean from a common tree in Central America, rub it fast on the concrete and touch it to the arm of an unsuspecting victim. The bean, commonly know, appropriately enough, as a Burny Bean, absorbed heat quickly and held it long enough to inflict damage on a nearby friend. (Kids play some pretty mean games).
It seems maple has the same capability - heats up fast, gets quite hot - and stays hot for a while. Discovered this similarity to Burny Beans while burnishing some maple pegs with shavings. The shavings AND the maple got damn hot damn quick. Now mahogany, padouk, rosewood. redwood and other stuff I've turned doesn't do this. What is it about maple that causes it to heat up so fast, get so hot and hold the heat longer than other woods?
charlie b