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Author
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Topic: poplar wood
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Dru
Member
Member # 180
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posted 07-18-2001 11:05 AM
    
I was recently told that the commonly available (in the US) wood known as poplar or tulip poplar is not the same as European poplar. I was told that European poplar is known in this country as cottonwood.Since I use this wood extensively for pattens and arrow shafts, I would like to know. I may not switch completely, for purely economic reasons, but I would like to know if this is in fact true. Thanks -------------------- Dru Shoemaker
www.medievalshoes.com
Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged
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J.K. Vernier
Member
Member # 123
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posted 07-18-2001 12:17 PM
The commonly available poplar in this country is Tulip Poplar,Liriodendron tulipfera, actually a member of the magnolia family, and native to eastern North America. Its wood is notable for irregular streaks of a greenish cast, particularly notable when fresh-cut.Cottonwoods are members of the Willow family (Salicaceae, Populus), which includes about 350 species worldwide, including willows, aspens, and european poplars (some of which are now also grown in the US).
(Info from Audubon Field Guide to N. American Trees) All of these woods are what are commonly referred to as "white woods" by woodworkers, and their properties are often considered interchangeable. For most purposes I would treat them that way as well. Tulip poplar is much more widely available than the other species commercially, because it grows like a big weed. The only obvious difference is the greenish cast of some pieces, which tends to fade in time. [ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: J.K. Vernier ]
Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
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Gwen
Member
Member # 126
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posted 07-18-2001 03:30 PM
Jeff makes all of our pattens out of Home Depot poplar, and I think it depends on they type of abuse. Jeff has worn one of his pairs on grass and dirt surfaces for years, to the point that the entire sole is noticeably thinner and the leather is stretched and distorted from use.Conversely, we had a client return a "defective" pair of pattens which he claimed broke after 3 days of wear. When they came back to us, the leather looked virtually brand new, but the tip of the patten had been worn almost completely off, and the bottom was pitted and scarred beyond belief and had gravel embedded in it. He had been walking around on cobbled streets and concrete pavement at Wisby, and on the 3rd day when he stepped off a curb onto a cobble he tweaked the patten and it snapped. We've sold dozens of pattens made of poplar, and that was the only return / problem we've encountered, except the occasional pulled nail. Seems that based on our experience, poplar is pretty strong. Gwen
Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
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hauptmann
unregistered
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posted 07-18-2001 08:45 PM
JeffJ-I can only think of a couple of reasons your poplar may experience damage when wet, as I've used poplar pattens through "bog" events, and they came through very well. What type of "damage" are you experiencing? Is the "damage" to pattens, or to another item made of poplar? Is your "damage" structural, which renders the item useless, or merely cosmetic?
IP: Logged
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hauptmann
unregistered
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posted 07-19-2001 11:24 AM
Yes, sounds unusual.You might try sealing the wood with oil or shellac, especially if you are in a damp climate, and I think you are.
IP: Logged
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