Replies

1. 
   pantalones868 | Jul 25, 2022 07:26pm | #1

   Cottonwood is a type of poplar and depending on where you are "cottonwood" might refer to what is generally referred by others as poplar,or an aspen or the softest tree in the area, you know, the opposite of " iron wood". When I think of cottonwood I think of Fremonts cottonwood ot populus fremontii. American Southwest.but maybe a decorative other places. It's soft sometimes burley and structurally not very sound but apparently strong enough to hang rustlers!
   I ve turned it ,it can have some interesting features. A little gnarly with lots of hard bits mixed in with some really soft stuff. It doesn't polish up or finish very well but I think that about all poplars. I could see it useful as maybe light weight furniture, like a piece with nice figure as a top or used for internal carcass parts. Poplar was often used that way (as unseen parts)because it's light, strong enough and tends to not split. I've heard of cottonwood being used in saddle making so I would guess it has some of the same properties as eastern poplar.
   Hey, it's wood ,use it! You'll figure out what it's useful for. I'm at a like mind as you when it come to wood selection. I frequent a place that gets it's material from what I call "road kill". It's no small operation either! I have a deal with a couple of tree guys as well. I just got a load of crap from the fire department over a pile of acacia logs that got dumped here. I had to move it out of sight, if it was a safety concern it still is!
   If I come upon something unusual or cheap I'll grab it and set it aside. Someday or some year even the perfect use for it will reveal itself.

2. 
   chiwoodworker | Jul 26, 2022 12:47am | #2

   I grew up with a GIANT cottonwood in my back yard. The sticky parts, pods, and cotton like seeds that get carried by the wind. Our yard would look like it snowed. Further back im the yard was a mulberry tree. Mashed berries mixed with "cotton"... our yard was a f'in disaster during certain times of the year.
   Construction crews will use cottonwood on scaffolding. Strong enough to bear weight and soft enough to absord impacts from falling material/tools.

3. 
   pantalones868 | Jul 26, 2022 02:02am | #3

   And probably to cheap to buy struc 1 certified scaffold planks!

4. 
   john_c2 | Jul 26, 2022 04:07am | #4

   Early railroads out west used cottonwood ties, as that's what was available at the time. And they got paid per mile of finished track, not good track.

   Workers complained that before they were done, they were already replacing the cottonwood ties back at the beginning.

   But assuming you aren't building a railroad, try it out. I always enjoy trying a new wood, even if it's just a small box or turning.

5. 
   pantalones868 | Jul 26, 2022 04:23pm | #5

   There was an attempt to pressure treat the ties with zinc chloride but it failed. The chemical solution made the ties too brittle.
   Jack London and a bunch of his Bohemian Club buddies decided that they could produce railroad ties by planting blue gum eucalyptus so they planted millions of them across California only to find that they are no good for anything! There is no life in a eucalyptus grove, even bugs won't go in there! I've tried to use the lumber it's hard and squirrely and really unstable.

6. 
   user-7134784 | Jul 26, 2022 05:06pm | #6

   Thanks everyone! Very informative and interesting comments. So today on the way home ( it’s a small urban sawmill I drive past everyday) I bought a board. Will dimension it and make a couple of small projects. And will give you all feedback. Thanks again!

7. 
   user-7134784 | Jul 26, 2022 07:39pm | #7

   Planed and resawed a piece of the cottonwood board. It looks promising and a whole lot more interesting than poplar!

   
1. 
   john_c2 | Jul 26, 2022 07:52pm | #8

   That does look interesting. I've never seen cottonwood.

   If it's cheap, it looks like it would make a great secondary wood, at least.