I read the article on growing Acers from seed, thinking it was your own tips, Billy, then I read at the end that it was written by Brad Elmore (mmm in my haste, I missed his name at the top of the page at first!!).
Brad must be one regimented guy!
I'm afraid my method is a lot more crude. I simply sowed the keys in September, half buried on the top of a tray of compost, and put them in my first "greenhouse". It was an old henhouse. I put glass windows all way around.
Some germinated in spring. Some germinated next spring. Some germinated the next spring.
My problem was I didnt know what way to lay the seed.
No internet in those days, so no ready source of information for a very green amateur. Key up, flat, etc etc, hence the half buried technique. It worked.
Heres three of my best ones. Two of them were dissectums. Both died over winter. The third is now a lovely atropurpureum.
http://www.ideasforgardens.com/gardenphotos/pic00217.htmlWhats your own method from seed Billy?
