Cedar and Poplar

[marmoh]

I will have the opportunity to pick up some Cedar and Poplar at a reasonable rate while on my trip.  Sure I could use the Cedar for different things but what about the poplar

[BilltheDiver]

Poplar is a good wood for a lot of things.  It is a hardwood, but doesn't get used much in furniture and such as it doesn't stain well.  Tends to come out blotchy.  That said, it is much tougher than pine and doesn't tend to split the way pine does.  It also makes pretty good trim to use to surround birch plywood.  I recently made a bookcase for my Grandaughter out of birch plywood trimmed with poplar and it came out great.  If you do want to stain it, just use a wood conditioner or a thinned out coat of clear finish first so you avoid the blotches.

[dunk]

Poplar is ideal for kids toys and puzzles, not too hard to cut but more sturdy than pine and won't break as easily.  Paints very well as it is tighter grain.  Cedar can be used for almost anything outdoors (western red cedar that is)  not real strong but easily cut. 

[Tako Kichi]

Poplar comes in a variety of natural shades depending on the age of the tree, where it grew and which part of the trunk it was cut from. Colours include almost white, pale yellow, numerous shades of green and pale pink through to a deep purple. The colours tend to run in bands down the length of a board (if the log is cut lengthwise) so selecting just the right piece of board for a project can be a bit tricky.

I was in my local hardware store/lumber yard last weekend and noticed their 3/8" and 1/2" poplar boards varied from a full coverage pale pea green on some boards to pale yellows on others while a few were varigated with multiple coloured stripes down the same board.

[julief]

I use a lot of poplar.  Very easy to work with and sturdy.

[Gabby]

I picked up some crating material from the dumpster at my local lumber yard. I'm thinking it might be poplar but I'm not sure. I noticed when sanding it, it has a peculiar musty strong odor that really sticks to your hands until you wash off the dust. Have any of you noticed this? If it's not poplar what is it?
Baffled Gabby

[julief]

It's probably not poplar.  Poplar sands well and I have never had it stick to my hands.  I don't know that it has an aroma either.  I rarely even use a dust mask when working with it - it doesn't seem to bother my breathing like some woods do.

[dgman]

Marion, As Dunk mentioned, poplar is good for making puzzles and toys. Also nice for frames for your portraits.

[marmoh]

Gabby ...Are you sure someone didn't mistake the dumpster for something else ?  
sticky ...smelly ?

[Gabby]

Gabby ...Are you sure someone didn't mistake the dumpster for something else ?  
sticky ...smelly ?

LOL Not THAT kind of sticky, just meant the odor clings with the fine dust to my hands. I can't describe the odor, best is Musty / Musky fairly strong. If someone else had smelled it while working with wood they would know what I was talking about, and I was hoping they would know wood by the kind of wood they would know! LOL
Maybe someone will pick up on this nonsense and know what I'm talking about. Prolly noght!
Gabby
Hey are we having fun yet??

[ArtCrafters]

I use Poplar in Intarsia projects where I want a green wood.  The problem is that it doesn't keep the green color.  It turhs brown.

Denny in TN

[RWEC]

I have used both poplar and cedar in various things, intarsia, fretwork, whatever.

I kind of like the way you can get the green, brown, white bands through the poplar. Adds a bit of interest I think.

Cedar cuts well but is so weak. I've got to be sure I don't try to cut too fine a piece or it will break off really easily.

Just my experience.

Randy

[cutter1]

I don't remember where I was reading this but it was said poplar was pretty good for cutting boards. Cheese I think because there's not much sawing with the knife.
Made one in a pig shape.
Chris

[GrayBeard]

I am afraid I would do too much damage to a cutting board with my sharp knives.
They are sharp enough to shave with when I have them peaked and I know they tear up Walnut some and poplar is definitely softer than walnut.

~~~GB~~~