Edensaw Woods is Washington state's main provider of
high-quality poplar domestic woods. Our professional staff is available to assist you in selecting the best poplar domestic wood for your project requirements. Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a deciduous hardwood tree native to eastern North America. It is also known as tulip poplar or yellow poplar. It grows quickly and can reach heights of 100-ft or more. Poplar wood is a common and affordable choice for furniture, cabinets, interior trim, and musical instruments, among other things. Poplar wood is a reasonably priced utility hardwood. It is less expensive than dense, premium hardwoods like oak or maple. The cost of poplar lumber varies depending on the quality and thickness of the lumber chosen.
Poplar Wood Properties and Uses:
- Color/Appearance: The sapwood is white, while the heartwood is typically greenish-yellow or brown. The color is known to darken to a deeper brown over time when exposed to light.
- Grain/Texture: The grain is straight and uniform with a fine, even texture. It is prized for its smoothness and lack of prominent grain patterns, making it excellent for painting and finishes.
- Endgrain: Features small to medium pores, visible growth rings, and ray cells that are not easily visible, creating a clean, consistent surface.
- Rot Resistance: Poplar is rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance. It should only be used in interior or protected applications unless fully treated and sealed for exterior use.
- Workability: It is considered one of the easiest domestic hardwoods to work with, machining cleanly with both hand and power tools. It accepts nails, screws, glue, and fasteners well.
- Odor: Poplar typically has a mild, somewhat sweet scent when being worked, which generally fades once the wood is dry.
- Common Uses: Ideal for painted trim, millwork, furniture frames (where appearance is not primary), core stock for veneer panels, and utility applications.
Understanding how poplar is graded and supplied is vital for project planning, especially regarding finishing:
- Grading (NHLA): Poplar is most often graded by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) rules. For paint-grade applications, lower, more cost-effective grades may be acceptable since defects will be covered. However, for clear finishing or visible natural color applications, higher grades like FAS (First and Seconds) or Select are necessary to ensure the required percentage of clear, defect-free material.
- Sizing and Thicknesses: Poplar lumber is typically available in standard rough thicknesses (known as "quarters"): 4/4 (1-in nominal), 5/4 (1-1/4-in nominal), 6/4 (1-1/2-in nominal), and 8/4 (2-in nominal). It is supplied either rough sawn or surfaced (S4S). Surfaced lumber saves time but costs more.
- Moisture Content (MC): High-quality poplar sold for interior use (furniture, cabinets) should be kiln-dried to a moisture content between 6% and 8%. This minimizes shrinking, warping, and movement after installation.
Searching for reliable poplar lumber for cabinetry, millwork, or trim? Edensaw Woods (
Edensaw.com) is the local wood plywood and panels supplier for woodworkers and builders in the Seattle-Port Townsend-Tacoma area. Located in Port Townsend-Tacoma, Washington, we maintain a wide selection of top-quality
domestic lumber and woods ready for pickup or delivery across the Pacific Northwest region. We specialize in providing the finest grades of
poplar lumber, valued for its smooth grain and acceptance of paint and primers. Our vast selection of domestic woods ensures you find the right species, including:
alder,
ash,
basswood,
beech,
birch,
cherry,
fir,
hickory,
eastern maple,
western maple,
red oak,
red oak r/q,
tennessee cedar,
walnut,
white oak, and
white oak r/q lumber. Check out our full list of
products and
services, and please
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