Polpar - anyone interested or give advice?

[tassietimbers]

Hi there,

I normally hang out in the small timber milling forum, but thought I would venture here for some advice. I have three large poplar tree logs to mill, and have no idea what the timber is best used for, or what sizes to cut it into. I normally cut high grade furniture timbers only, so this is a bit of a one off. Can anyone give me any suggestions, as I would probably like simply to mill the logs and sell the timber unseasoned. I don't know what it would be worth, but I'm open for suggestions.

Cheers
James:2tsup:

[elanjacobs]

A quick Google search has revealed that poplar is commonly used for matchsticks, pallets and in the paper/pulp industries due to the fact that it's REALLY soft - it's technically a hardwood, but so is Balsa - so I guess it's an alternative to Radiata Pine.

No idea what prices are like here, but a couple of US websites have it listed for the equivalent of about $1100 per cubic metre.

[dr4g0nfly]

American Tulipwood is also a Poplar and turns very well. So it might be worth taking a closer look at what's on offer.

[rustynail]

I cut quite a bit of poplar in the Tumut area some years ago. It was plantation grown on river flats and I wasnt expecting anything much of it. A local chap took quite a bit of it and used it for framing on an addition he was putting on the house. It performed quite well, stayed straight, no cell collapse and very little checking. It's used quite a bit in the US and probably will get into our retailers over the next few years

[Mr Brush]

A local timber supplier used to keep it, but a furniture maker I used to work for bought up all his remaining stock at a bargain price.

I had the chance to use some of the poplar, and its actually quite nice to work with. Light in weight, but not THAT soft - not as soft as most of the cedars for example. Some interesting greenish tints amongst the boards on offer. As rustynail says, certainly pretty stable with minimal checking.

I would say poplar would compete in the same markets as paulownia, and the latter would likely be available at better prices???

[ClintO]

I havent had the chance to visit an outlet but isnt Masters selling Poplar.

[Oddjob1]

G'day mate,

I had quite a bit of Poplar some years ago, in the log and an old guy said I should leave it in the log for as long as possible so it would season gradually.
This suited me at the time as I didn't have the money to have it milled, even so I did have a small quantity milled into furniture sizes and sticked it out then forgot about it.
The old guy was wrong because the rest of logs rotted down so fast the white ants couldn't even get a feed. Thankfully the stuff I'd had milled became very nice components for many items even some of it that became spalted in the stack was lovely, so mill it pronto, keep it dry and you will have some very nice furniture grade material to sell.

Cheers,

Oddjob1

[underfoot]

and have no idea what the timber is best used for,
They make clogs out of it at the clog barn in Coffs Harbour..
and it's ok as a carving wood

[T.C]

I havent had the chance to visit an outlet but isnt Masters selling Poplar.
Yep they're also selling red oak. No idea what the prices are but I did see them when I was there.

[tassietimbers]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I think I might mill it this winter when the mill returns from red gum salvage work. I'll quarter saw it as the greenish tints MR Brush hinted at are quite prevalent. One log has nearly got the markings of a black heart sassy, so that might be nice in 10' wide boards. I'll posts some pics if it turns out ok.

Cheers and thanks,

James:2tsup:

[Robson Valley]

Not too much of a market here for poplar, just about anything else is better for whatever you want to make. One niche market = sold as dimension 1/2" x 6" boards, commonly used as drawer sides in cabinet work. Nice and flat, very smooth and straight. I've used it for relief woodcarvings intended to be wood-block prints. Holds enough detail to be just barely useful. Aspen is veneered for the disposable chopstick market.
Cottonwood bark is prized by one large tribe of wood carvers but nobody wants the wood.
If there are any burls, bowl carvers like those.