Is it really a tulip?

A neighbour called this morning to ask if I was interested in some tulip tree timber. Unsure what to expect, I was (I think pleasantly) surprised to see a fairly substantial tree had been felled - around 800mmAttachment 358701Attachment 358702 in diameter. He said it was a tulip tree with large yellow flowers. Before breaking my back collecting the stuff (there has to be several tons of it) I thought I'd make sure that it is a timber worth saving.

From photo's of tulip trees on the web the bark certainly matches up, but the timber looks nothing like any pictures of tulip tree timber. This stuff has very large and pronounced growth rings, in fact it looks like Japanese cedar or even radiata in cross section which prompted me to ask the questions - is this typical of tulip tree timber and if so, is it worth the effort to collect and dry for wood turning (or indeed, should it be milled into planks?)?

Any advice much appreciated.

Cheers
Phil

If it's Liriodendron Tulipifera, aka Yellow Poplar (althought it's not a true poplar) it's a fairly good all-round timber, used fairly extensively in construction & cabinetry (as a secondary timber) in North America.

I've turned a few pieces and it turned nicely in most cases, although it needed sharp chisels and a bit more than average sanding.

From my understanding, the rings vary widely from location to location, depending on growing conditions. My FIL felled a Tulip Tree when I was in Canada a few years ago and it had nice, tight rings. He also showed me another board he'd picked up from 'down south' with each ring around 2cm thick!

Thanks Skew, it sounds then like it will be worth saving a few pieces then! It also sounds like its a fairly soft and fibrous timber, perhaps similar to Japanese cyprus? Do you have any photo's of your pieces?
Cheers
Phil:)

The Ausy stuff I've played with was open fibris stuff, rots quickly with spalting, yellowish to pale colour (see https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...80)

Thanks Dai Sensei, I think It will be worth keeping a few pieces but not break my back on the big lumps. I saw an article suggesting that the best use is for pallet timber!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phily

Thanks Dai Sensei, I think It will be worth keeping a few pieces but not break my back on the big lumps. I saw an article suggesting that the best use is for pallet timber!

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next year's pallet challenge ?

.... with mandatory spindles and hollow forms!! Unfortunately I'm unavailable for the challenge, whenever it is :U