Thread: Any demand or use for poplar timber?

Heaps of it up the east coast of nsw that was planted for matchsticks but got superceded by the popularity of the bic lighter. I've used a bit of it both lombardy poplar and white poplar. It dries well, cuts well, glues well. Makes a nice light strong pale timber. Not really tough enough to make table tops but I think it would make really good chunky furniture or maybe thick sided turned bowls or big carving blocks.
At least seal the ends and cut it down the middle and that will give you time to decide what to do with it.

The Septics use a fair bit of poplar for secondary wood in furniture making. Perhaps some cabinetmakers here might be interested in the stuff.

good to carve. Used to make clogs. Sell it to the clog maker in cooma.

How much do you want for a log?

Must be half decent stuff, the new Masters stores are selling it as DAR. I've heard it's got a high silica content, could be wrong though

Thanks for the info. It seems as if someone may be able to use it. I reckon there is about 5 cubes of logs, which may produce maybe 1.5 - 2.0 cubes of timber. I might try over in the wood working area, unless someone like Pagie throws me an offer that discourages me from starting up the mill!

Cheers
James

Originally Posted by tassietimbers

Hi guys

I recently salvaged some poplar logs from a local tree lopper. They are up to 800mm in diameter and 5m long and in good condition. Does anyone on the forum have any experience in milling poplar, and what end use it has and maybe it's value. Just not sure where to go with this species. Any advice welcome.

Cheers
James

And try the instrument makers forum. Viola and Cello backs were fairly regularly made with the stuff.

cheers,
B-D

any pics?

Nice stable timber as I recall. I quartered some logs a few years back and left some to fester in the corner of the shed. 2 years later no cracks or splits.
Beats the p@@p out of pine anyday

actually, it's excellent timber, not strong but can be heavily figured if it's Lombardy Poplar, The Cottonwood is fairly plain but great for cabinetry.
I have posted a few photos on our Faceboob page if you want to have a look.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.102803719798910.5925.102790923133523&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=307542282658385&set=a.102803719798910.5925.102790923133523&type=3&theater

James, seems like there is a demand for it....

I did a little bit of reading up on Poplar. It was planted extensively for a while around the 60s but succumbed to a rust disease. For some reason I had not realised it is a hardwood, but it has a density similar to radiata pine so apart from balsawood must be amongst the lighter hardwoods.

Clearly it was seen as a useable timber, but primarily for indoor use. It is susceptible to bluestain and has a woolly nature (sounds a little like me).

Uses are listed as match splints,plywood, artificial limbs (I doubt that nowadays as Long John Silver was probably the last to use poplar for that purpose), brake blocks (for bullock carts?) and wood wool (what's that?).

I think plywood maufacturers would be interested if you had a plantation full, but for a few logs it is probably not worth gearing up. Redheads are the match producer, but they may source timber from overseas.

I think I would place a thread on the "Timber" section of the forums asking for expressions of interest and if there is any interest ask what sizes are required. Wouldwood's response indicates a possible interest there. 150mm x 25mm is a fairly standard furniture board and I would put my money there. It can always be cut down.

Regards
Paul

Thanks for the info Paul. When things calm down a bit and all the gear comes home to the farm, I'll get into one of them and see how it looks. I'll post a few pics just for interest sake.

Cheers and thanks

James