Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Nov 20, 2008 02:34am | #1

   Sounds awfully nice for something you're going to paint over.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   oldusty | Nov 20, 2008 03:03am | #2

      In the 60s and 70s they / we used Birch plywood for the faces and mitered the corners of the finished ends to the case , they did it for stain grade as well .  It can be done but why not use Poplar at approx $2.00 or so per BF it will cost less and be better for this application than Baltic Birch , imo .

      good  luck                dusty, whose made my share of paint grade stuff

3. 
   ring | Nov 20, 2008 08:57am | #3

   Don't know about your neighborhood but Baltic Birch ply costs me exactly twice the price of a comparable volume of poplar. Also painting the plies presents an added difficulty. Why would I want to use the BB for this?

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

4. 
   ChipTam | Nov 20, 2008 06:45pm | #4

   For paint-grade face frames, I use soft maple but poplar is also fine.  As others have said, I would also stay away from plywood.

   ChipTam

5. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 21, 2008 04:33am | #5

   Poplar is a wonderful wood! Very stable, sort of soft but not that bad..

   Poplar is like a new bride.. Soft at first but toughens up a bit with exposure.

1. 
   oldusty | Nov 21, 2008 04:41am | #6

   Will , Yeah , that soft new bride stuff didn't last long , but after 30 years I'm the lucky one .

                    dusty

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Nov 21, 2008 04:55am | #7

   dusty,

   What happened, you and Maple didn't get along?  Uh, I meant, uh forget it - brain cramp.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   Edited 11/20/2008 8:55 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   oldusty | Nov 21, 2008 05:47am | #8

     Bob , Hows your Acorn ?

                      d

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Nov 22, 2008 05:17pm | #11

   dusty,

   Funny you should ask.  I think it would be appropriate if I make it with white oak, doncha think?

   Methinks it's a good choice for outdoors material and the price is right.  Got a stack of it all dried and under cover and was donated to the woodshop.

   I found one in town on a house and the homeowner has graciously allowed me to take pics and measurements.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

2. 
   BrianDerr | Nov 21, 2008 10:31am | #9

   VERY soft! you really have to watch for denting it during delivery, even after paint (oh how the grain raises after the first coat . . . !). And I keep hearing how it machines so well, but after several cabinets I find it quite fuzzy, putty-like, and prone to tear out in its own way. Call me a poplar pessimist, but I'll be looking to soft maple, I think, for the next big painted job. Let's not be fooled by how EASY it is to work, there is less integrity in the final product! Fine for low-end work, I guess . . . but I'm a hardwood enthusiast.Brian

1. 
   oldusty | Nov 21, 2008 05:49pm | #10

     Brian , Poplar can fuzz a tad more then others but what I have noticed some Poplar is much softer than others , the last few paint grade jobs worth have been the best I ever had .It may depend on the region , not sure but I have had it so soft as you describe I had to be careful not to dent or scratch it with my finger nails .I have used quite a bit of the Soft Maple and mainly the grain and waste factor / yield are far better with Poplar imo , wider clearer knot free boards , yup it is softer then the Maple .

                         dusty