Poplar for primary wood for cabinets
digitallimit
| Posted in Wood and Materials on
Hello everyone.
I have been gone from wood working for a long time; however, trying to get back into constructing products. I have made kitchen cabinets from Yellow and White Pine; however, nothing from true hardwood.
I am curious about Poplar. I have noticed historically poplar has been used as a secondary wood; however, from my understanding it is classed as a hardwood in North America. In addition, I have noticed that it is usually free of knots and all the sap that plagues Pine.
Is it a good material to use as the primary wood source for basic/simple cabinets for kitchens? I guess the main reason I am looking at Poplar is: (1) never used it (2) usually free of knots and (3) I can source some wood pretty cost effective.
Thank you
Replies
I love using poplar, but only if I'm painting the project. Poplar's color varies widely, and doesn't look good with a clear finish.
But for paint, I think it's far superior to pine. It's harder and more dent resistant.
I was thinking about using a Cherry stain on it since I have read just as you pointed out.
To be honest, I was concerned more with its hardness and how dent resistant it would be, and how well it will hold up from every day use, especially in a house with little ones.
Thank you.
Hi,
I looked it up and, typically, poplar is softer than pine. It dents fairly easily but the dents can be sanded out as easily.
I believe wood choice is personal preference, but poplar's fun to work with and doesn't require any special handling.
But careful, though. Whatever finish you use, the wood will soak up the 1st coat immediately.
Hope this helped. Let us know.
Mikaol
Southern yellow pine is harder than poplar. But eastern white pine, about the only type we get here in the northeast, has only about 2/3rds the Janka hardness of poplar.
I used to use poplar a lot. It's a great wood to work, but for me, there is just too many color variations in the heart wood. Even if you're ok with the green color, it'll change to brown eventually. On board I have has turned from green to brown and back to green.
Yeah. Green, brown purple. Poplar has them all. It just doesn't look good without really dark stain, and even then . . . It's fine as unfinished secondary wood, or painted.
Only word of caution from me is i am currently building a coffee table all with poplar. I have had a lot of problem with it warping in our humid New Orleans weather. As soon as i flatten it, it moves on me. Its been a frustrating project.
I also agree with the others that it doesn't stain well or pretty. For me, painting it is the only option.
Agreed. The sap wood has a tendency to move... a LOT.
If you have the opportunity to choose your boards, it's often possible to avoid the really strongly colored ones, or the ones that are partially colored (e.g., with a large diagonal section of green next to a relatively neutral colored one.
If you plan to stain it, rather than paint it, I have successfully neutralized the green cast of poplar by using a very dilute red aniline dye, then sanding it down to a pale pink, before using a thin seal coat of amber shellac. It will then both take stain more evenly and the stain color will be more predictable.
Thank you all for the great suggestions and comments. I have been out of the game for a while, so getting back into it. Thought since I never used Polar, would give it a try.
I did not know that about staining, so I will keep that in mind when picking out a stain.
Has anyone been disappointed with how it holds up from every day use? Will be making the Face and frame structure with Poplar, but side panels will be 1/4 Birch wood to keep costs down.
Thank you all
Poplar works well with hand tools and can be had a good price. I think it isn't used as a primary wood because many consider it to be unattractive. I have used in for some items in the workshop and quite like it's look.
There are ways to stain it that work quite nicely (see below for the process I did and I really liked the way it came out); I did this when I made the Fine Woodworking Shaker Inspired step stool two years ago. My daughter has been quite hard on that step stool and likes to play with it. Given the abuse, I would say it holds up quite well. Better than pine in my opinion.
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/american-woodworker-blog/make-poplar-look-pretty/
I assume you're talking about doors and drawer fronts. Cabinet boxes are built of sheetgoods.
Yes it is fine, mainly used for painted cabinetry, doors and drawer fronts, although soft maple is probably a better product.
I've found poplar varies in hardness pretty hard to pretty soft.
I have used poplar with very much success. I usually get very selective with the boards. In finishing, I seal the boards with shellac prior to staining with a non absorbing stain such as Zar stain. Poplar is readily available in my area (Northeast Pennsylvania) and is very cost effective.
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