I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
I was playing around with a 2"x2" piece of poplar in my lathe. When I
got tired of practicing beads and coves I decided to make the untouched
portion into a bud vase. It came out fairly good for a first attempt if
I may modestly say so. I bored a hole down the center and made a square
base with a molded edge and glued it to the bottom.
Then I tried some stains on a scrap piece and selected a dark oak from
what I had in stock. All I can say is that it looks unusual and
different and is not uniform in color all over. I think that I will tell
everybody that it was unearthed from King Tut's tomb and is an ancient
artifact (like me=A0{:-) ).
My next piece will probably be an attempt at a larger vase but I will
select a different wood than poplar.
Peace ~ Sir Edgar
=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=
=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8
I usually use poplar for drawers/slide-out trays, etc.
I have been finishing them first with a "spit coat"
of amber/orange shellac (roughly 3 alcohol: 1 shellac -
I just use the canned stuff).
Then a coat or two of clear poly. Looks pretty nice
to me. Never used it for face-frames or "outside"
visible stuff (except when painting).
I think the orange shellac covers the greenish
tint of the poplar. Give it a try & see if the
boss likes it!
Hope this helps.
Lou
In article <[email protected]>, patriarch
<patriarch>[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] (Chris Nail) wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> > kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> > doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> > I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> > from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
> >
>
> I don't think you really want to stain it, but since you have a large load
> of it, why don't you see about a copy of any book by Bob Flexner, or Jeff
> Jewitt, and make up some sample boards for your wife?
>
> Criminy, even Norm paints this stuff!
>
> Patriarch
Poplar is really more suited for inner cabinet parts, drawers and structure.
Unless you have some unusually clear wood it will probably be pretty
inconsistent in grain and color. That is why exposed Poplar often gets
paint. Good news is that for drawers and other parts it works easy and is
quite stable.
Might want to consider using your free poplar for drawers, frames, shelving
and go with a more durable and attractive hardwood outside. That might be a
win-win.
I've had luck using water based stains on poplar. You must carefully sand
the fuzz (raised grain) after the stain is applied.
"Sir Edgar" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I was playing around with a 2"x2" piece of poplar in my lathe. When I
got tired of practicing beads and coves I decided to make the untouched
portion into a bud vase. It came out fairly good for a first attempt if
I may modestly say so. I bored a hole down the center and made a square
base with a molded edge and glued it to the bottom.
Then I tried some stains on a scrap piece and selected a dark oak from
what I had in stock. All I can say is that it looks unusual and
different and is not uniform in color all over. I think that I will tell
everybody that it was unearthed from King Tut's tomb and is an ancient
artifact (like me {:-) ).
My next piece will probably be an attempt at a larger vase but I will
select a different wood than poplar.
Peace ~ Sir Edgar
øøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøø
Best advice. Then again, he might, depending on location, actually have
poplar versus magnolia, and that's a whole different matter.
"Larry Kraus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> If you have a crap load, pull out a few bits and try a few stains. All
> the opinions here will not tell you a fraction of what you will learn
> from actually seeing a few samples.
If you have a crap load, pull out a few bits and try a few stains. All
the opinions here will not tell you a fraction of what you will learn
from actually seeing a few samples. Stain will tend to even out color
variations, and in my experience, the green and purple tones of fresh
cut poplar tend to turn shades of brown in a short time anyway.
All the woodwork and doors in our house are poplar, stained to match
the middle browns of our natural hickory kitchen cabinets. Looks great
and the cost savings over oak allowed much nicer moldings and solid
four-panel doors. If your tile top will have a poplar edge you should
expect it to acquire a few dents, since poplar is a rather soft
compared to most hardwoods.
[email protected] (Chris Nail) wrote:
>I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
>kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
>doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
>I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
>from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
I've done some cherry on poplar. I suggest some experiments too.
It's nice looking wood, but very absorbent, so maybe a gel would be good.
I'd try multiple light coats too.
It's also quite soft, but should be fine if you aren't walking on it.
Wilson
"Chris Nail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
Let me chime in with the rest and say it 'can' be done, but try a test
piece first. Shellac can cover some of the color variations. After the
'boss' sees it, she may have you use something else.
Mark L.
Chris Nail wrote:
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
Think "toner" out of spray cans. You can make poplar look
like many different woods, but staining is gonna be a
struggle. You "can" stain it but with the greens and browns,
you get some rather "odd" results.
Chris Nail wrote:
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
>
Tight and straight grained it works well and, while thirsty, it takes
stain well. Of course, if this is the first time you've tried to stain
poplar it doesn't mean you can skip the "experiment on finished (sanded
to the same level as the finished piece) scrap to see what is going to
give you the look you want.
It should work out fine for you.
--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
[email protected]
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
>
Too all the nay saying about poplar being only good as a secondary wood
fit only for drawers and such. It's pretty much BS with most of it, I'm
willing to bet, coming from the usual "I heard it somewhere so I'll jump
on the bad wagon" set.
Poplar is strong enough for most applications and takes a stain quite
nicely. If the occasional greenish tinge of the grain bothers someone
and they are really worried about it under stain just put the wood out
in the sun for a short period of time and it will turn a light brown.
It dents and dings fairly easily, about on a par with pine, so be sure
to ease all your edges and corners but otherwise it should do the job
you are asking about nicely.
Good luck.
--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
[email protected]
Rumpty wrote:
> For the effort and work involved with your project, pick another hardwood
> such as Cherry or Oak.
>
> --
>
> Rumpty
>
> Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>
> "Chris Nail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
>>kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
>>doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
>>I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
>>from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
>
>
>
I agree with Rumpty. Save the poplar for interior pieces like drawer
sides or pieces to be painted or firewood... Poplar's grain is very
bland and tends to have a green tint. It'd be a shame to put all that
work into something that would look better painted.
TWS
[email protected] (Chris Nail) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
>
I don't think you really want to stain it, but since you have a large load
of it, why don't you see about a copy of any book by Bob Flexner, or Jeff
Jewitt, and make up some sample boards for your wife?
Criminy, even Norm paints this stuff!
Patriarch
Good article on Poplar in the Jan 1990 issue of Popular Woodworking.
Tom
"Chris Nail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
"Chris Nail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
Well, IMHO, if you want to stain it, don't use poplar. The poplar (at least
what is available here) has many streaks of various colors. Again, IMHO,
poplar is destined to be painted. Besides that, it's relatively soft. It
wouldn't be my first choice for something that would get the use that a
table base would. Depending on what else was in the kitchen, I'd be
inclined to go with a relatively inexpensive hardwood like oak or even ash.
todd
On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 00:20:21 +0000, Wilson wrote:
> I've done some cherry on poplar. I suggest some experiments too.
> It's nice looking wood, but very absorbent, so maybe a gel would be good.
> I'd try multiple light coats too.
I've been using poplar to practice box-making, and I've gotten attractive
results using minwax gel stain, antique maple #603. Works much better if
you use a pre-stain conditioner. The color resembles (slightly) a pale
recently-sawn cherry. Because I was applying paper prints to the box
tops and didn't want the colors to amber, I used minwax polycrylic
waterbased varnish. For use in the kitchen, a good hard polyurethane
would probably work better. A while back I built a 4-drawer unit for our
kitchen with poplar drawer faces, backsplash, and edging, with a maple
butcher block top, and I didn't stain that poplar. Wish I had, now.
Over here in the UK it is Tulipwood and my attempts to stain it turned
out very blotchy. If you clean it with white spirit first, make sure
that it is totally dry. On my second attempt, I put the stain on
sparingly using a cloth and didn't let it soak in too much. I
probably used about 6 coats but rather that than patches where it has
soaked right in.
That was just my efforts with it. Since that time for cheap wood, I
have used Alder which isn't so bad but still at a reasonable price (in
the UK)
Regards
Paul
On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:35:18 -0600, "Tom Lewis" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Good article on Poplar in the Jan 1990 issue of Popular Woodworking.
>
>Tom
>
>
>"Chris Nail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
>> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
>> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
>> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
>> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?
>
For the effort and work involved with your project, pick another hardwood
such as Cherry or Oak.
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Chris Nail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have very little experience with poplar but would like to build a
> kitchen island table (tile on the top) and use poplar. My boss (wife)
> doesn't want to paint it; rather it be stained. The main reason that
> I'm thinking of using poplar is because I've a crap load of it (got it
> from a relative for no $$). Any suggestions?