Replies

1. 
   John_D | Mar 30, 2006 04:15am | #1

   Most places, poplar is the least expensive hardwood you can get.  It's easy to work, but not terribly durable (it weathers badly), and some don't consider it beautiful.  A lot of professionals use it for paint-grade interior work, though.

   As to sawing your own, doing that right will mean more than a trivial amount of learning and effort.  That said, if that appeals to you, you should certainly (eventually) be able to save some money this way.  But it's a ways off.  You'll still need to learn the skills (and acquire appropriate tools) that will allow you to take rough-cut lumber and turn it into dimensioned, usable stock.

   Look at some of the threads about sawing your own logs.  There's a lot of information here.

   And have fun!

   My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
2. 
   bd | Mar 30, 2006 05:50pm | #2

   Hopefully someone will respond that really knows what they're talking about, but I will give you what I can & try not to add any misinformation. When I read your post, I thought, "yeah, I can respond to that even though we're in vastly different climates" (I live in Virginia). But, then I got my guide book out & learned a few things myself. What is generally referred to as poplar in the woodworking supply chain is known as yellow poplar, or tulip poplar. After looking it up, it appears the more proper name would be tulip tree, a name commonly used elsewhere -- scientific name: Liriodendron Tulipifera. Named that way because the leaf has a profile much like a tulip flower. According to my references, it would not be either white poplar or black poplar. White poplar is Populus alba, and I'm guessing the black poplar is Populus nigra. The yellow poplar trees grow large (for eastern hardwoods), & are a relative soft, easily workable wood. Unless the end product is going to be painted, most people will only use it as a secondary wood, although, I have read threads here where people have talked about successfully staining it. While something of an attractive creamy white when first cut, it will darken significantly with UV exposure. It also tends to have colored streaks of green, purple & black running thru it that would be difficult to hide unless you are using a finish with significant pigment. Some of the boards can be beautifully multicolored, but unless you are putting it somewhere it won't get any sunlight, the colors won't hold.

   hmmmm, that's a lot of horsehockey not to answer your question completely, eh??? But, hey! I learned something looking it up. Guess you'll have to wait for someone that knows something about your native woods to read your inquiry.....

   
   

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   Edited 3/31/2006 4:01 pm ET by bd

1. 
   BruceS | Mar 30, 2006 08:06pm | #4

   You get the ATTA BOY from me,  on your research  !!!!!  Here in NE Ohio, The lumber "Poplar" (common name here)  Is really Yellow Poplar  and the common name of the tree  is Tulip.  Guess it all depends on where you live.

   Now the use of "Poplar" yellow poplar.  40 some odd years ago my Father made some Moulding for their bedroom out of poplar in a Shaker style and finished it naturally,  Painted the wall a nice olive tone and the outcome was stunning.  No wood is lowly if you use your imagination ,  "Look for the good in things and you will surly find them" To Quote Abraham Lincoln.Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S.  Counter Sales, Tech Rep.  http://WWW.EAGLEAMERICA.COM

    

    

3. 
   JohnWW | Mar 30, 2006 06:37pm | #3

   Dan,

   Poplar is a commodity, like oil or copper, and its price swings with changes in supply and demand.  So you may be driving past millions of poplars in Canada, but they don't help a cabinetmaker in Toronto or Houston who needs dry dimensioned stock which, for some reason or other, may be in short supply at the moment.

   If a tree is going to yield useful stock for commercial lumber, the trunk needs to be fairly large in diameter, at least a foot in diameter and preferably much larger.  My recollection is that trees in the far North rarely reach this size, so the polars you are seeing probably have little commercial value but you might be able to get usable wood from them none the less.

   John W.

    

1. 
   citrouille | Mar 30, 2006 08:59pm | #5

   yellow poplar doesn't grow in Canada, what they call poplar is in fact alder, somewhat similar, whiter and fuzzier. Here in New England where yellow poplar is very rare they call alder popol.
   In Italy Yellow poplar is widely used in furniture and doors, they do a fantastic job staining it dark to appear like walnut. Check out http://www.garofoli.com the "canoe wood" doors are made out of tulipwood (canoe wood is an old name for it).C.