Scrolling concrete...

[Iguanadon]

Not really concrete, but something rather interesting... I've always bought my poplar boards from Home Depot but a few days ago we were at Lowe's (which is only 300 yards away) and I picked up two 6' boards, it was nice that they have it pre-cut in 6' lengths whereas at Home Depot I always had to find someone to cut the 10' - 12' long boards down for me so I could get them home.

Anyway, I thought when I picked them up they felt heavier than I was used to and cutting them this week I swear these boards are denser and harder.  I'm burning up blades faster than usual.  Not really complaining, but surprised at there being such a difference between the quality of the wood between the two stores.  I figured poplar was poplar... but I'd heard that Home Depot overall was of a lesser quality but never gave it much thought.  Until now.

[tuner]

Always good to know, maybe home depot is geared more towards home handyman and buys accordingly

[Iguanadon]

5 minutes ago, tuner said:

Always good to know, maybe home depot is geared more towards home handyman and buys accordingly

I guess there's a chance these 2 boards I bought just happened to have a higher moisture content.  I plan on buying more from Lowe's because the boards are nicer overall and cut to length so I'll see if they consistently seem denser and harder.

[Bill WIlson]

I may be wrong, but I suspect that what you have isn't actually poplar.  Could it be that somehow some hard maple got mixed in with the poplar? 

[Iguanadon]

Just now, Bill WIlson said:

I may be wrong, but I suspect that what you have isn't actually poplar.  Could it be that somehow some hard maple got mixed in with the poplar? 

Interesting thought... I have never worked with maple and I don't know squat about wood, so I wouldn't really know what to look for other than what's on the label stuck to the wood.  LOL  

It had the same color variations, tones and had the same tight grain as always, but if maple is similar, I wouldn't know the difference.  I'll see if my next purchase acts the same and when I'm at the store I'll take a closer look to see if it appears another type of wood is mixed in.

[Bill WIlson]

I don't think it's all that common for wood to be dramatically harder from one board to another.  Certainly the way the tree grew and the way the wood was dried can have some effect on how hard it is, but lumber all has a hardness rating, called the Janka scale.  Poplar measures 540 on the Janka scale, which is actually much closer to softwoods than to hardwoods (hemlock is 500, white pine is 420).  Maple looks much like poplar and can readily be mistaken for it.  However, the Janka rating for hard maple (sugar maple) is 1450, which is harder than white oak. 

[rjweb]

As far as lumber goes, lowes has always had a better quailty wood than home depot, and for maple the lowes around here don't sell maple. How are you doing are you on schelude for your puzzle cutting, RJ

Edited June 21, 2017 by rjweb

[Iguanadon]

26 minutes ago, rjweb said:

As far as lumber goes, lowes has always had a better quailty wood than home depot, and for maple the lowes around here don't sell maple. How are you doing are you on schelude for your puzzle cutting, RJ

Thanks for asking RJ... I have 9 weeks til my big event and right now I have 120 puzzles that I display each week at my local farmers market, plus I take 80 duplicates with me every Saturday.  Whatever I sell each week, I re-cut to replenish to keep 200 on hand at all times.

Then I'm cutting and stockpiling for the big event and right now I have 155 piling up, so I'm at 355 with a goal of having 500 by August 25th.  I should be fine.  I've increased my 5 a day (35 a week) to 50 a week (which includes restocking what I sold Saturdays at the farmers market, which averages 30) and if it looks like I'll be crunched for time I'll take a week of vacation from the day job to dedicate to cutting to get me to the goal.

Trying to guess what to have on hand is the trick, but I have a year of detailed statistics of what I've sold to use as a guide.  

Edited June 21, 2017 by Iguanadon

[Iguanadon]

Oh, and I'm REALLY wanting my new saw to get here!!!  

[tonylumps]

Iggy There is no mistaken maple for poplar. Though there is a color similarity but the grain is different.If it was maple and you use 3/4" stock that Dewalt would be jumping up and down if you tried to cut at the same speed as poplar.I use all hardwoods for my cuttings.When I use 3/4 hardwood such as Oak and hard Maple I use the Hegner.I know the EX will cut it.But i don't think it would like a steady diet of 3/4.Even with the Hegner Hardwood is slow and easy.

[ike]

I only buy Pllywood from H.D. or lowes I get the popular from Paaxton woods ( There is only 3 In  the U.S.) at a cost os $2.10 per board foot. where HD is at $4.75 pr board foot

but I think I will have to proce the Ply at Paxton Woods for H.D. and Lowes stop handling the top grade ply.
IKE

[Lucky2]

Iggy, there wouldn't be that much difference in hardness of poplar between the two stores. As mentioned above, there's a scale that rates the hardness of the different types of wood. You had to have gotten a different type of wood then poplar, was there a label on the piece of wood to state that it was poplar?

Len

[hawkeye10]

4 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

I may be wrong, but I suspect that what you have isn't actually poplar.  Could it be that somehow some hard maple got mixed in with the poplar? 

Bill I was going to say that. I am always behind and a dollar short.    

[Iguanadon]

2 hours ago, tonylumps said:

Iggy There is no mistaken maple for poplar. Though there is a color similarity but the grain is different.If it was maple and you use 3/4" stock that Dewalt would be jumping up and down if you tried to cut at the same speed as poplar.I use all hardwoods for my cuttings.When I use 3/4 hardwood such as Oak and hard Maple I use the Hegner.I know the EX will cut it.But i don't think it would like a steady diet of 3/4.Even with the Hegner Hardwood is slow and easy.

Well you all have me curious now.  I peeled the small stickers off the pieces while I was mounting my patterns and didn't pay attention to what they said.  I'm heading back to Lowe's tomorrow and will see what's there and what I end up with.  

[lawson56]

I can understand your wood problem?I had the same run in with Cedar a few years back,1 board was a breeze to cut,the next was like cutting thru a cement block.Hope you get it figured out.

[ScollSaw Slasher]

Any species of lumber can vary considerably in hardness. Redid a a 1925 bungalow floor in my sons house. It was a pine that one would have thought was oak. Have the factor of new growth/old growth, what part of the tree, what part of the world did the tree grow, etc. etc. When I say world, just picked up some pine for a project at Lowes and it came from New Zealand (live in Florida). So I doubt it was a miss marked maple since I haven't seen maple at a Lowes in years either board or ply. But this is Florida and I know HD and Lowes might carry a few local lumbers in different parts of the country.

[Iguanadon]

52 minutes ago, ScollSaw Slasher said:

Any species of lumber can vary considerably in hardness. Redid a a 1925 bungalow floor in my sons house. It was a pine that one would have thought was oak. Have the factor of new growth/old growth, what part of the tree, what part of the world did the tree grow, etc. etc. When I say world, just picked up some pine for a project at Lowes and it came from New Zealand (live in Florida). So I doubt it was a miss marked maple since I haven't seen maple at a Lowes in years either board or ply. But this is Florida and I know HD and Lowes might carry a few local lumbers in different parts of the country.

I just went out into the shop and looked closer at the boards and they have the tell-tale green tint throughout, so I'm 99% sure that what I got was poplar, just a bit denser/harder than what I'm used to.  Again, maybe just moisture content, as I said it even felt heavier when I was carrying it...  I'll be at Lowes in 2 hours... If everything feels heavier, I may go back to Home Depot, not because I want lower quality wood, but this harder stuff from Lowes was putting extra work on my Dewalt.

[Iguanadon]

OK, so, got to Lowe's and there was 1 board that was identical in look and weight as the ones I bought the other day and it was marked as poplar just like the others.  I found 2 other boards that were lighter in weight and I bought those today.  I'm sure they'll cut more like what I'm used to.

I hope Lowe's computers realize that their poplar is now selling quicker than normal and they stock up accordingly as there were only 2 boards remaining after I bought the ones today.

[CharleyL]

3/4" thick Poplar can be bought at other lumber yards that stock hard woods for much less than Lowes and Home Depot sell it for, but they won't carry the short and thin hobby pieces that you can get at the big box stores. If you are buying that much3/4 thick poplar, you should check around and compare prices. The Wurth Group is a major supplier of plywood and hardwoods. Do a Google Search to see if you can find one of them near you, but also ask around at the local lumber yards that are not Lowes or Home Depot to see if they sell poplar. Since poplar is so plentiful in the NC part of the country, also check the saw mills nearby, although you may need a table saw, jointer, and planer if you buy from them. Make certain that they kiln dry their wood too. You might also ask at the custom cabinet making shops in your area as to where they buy poplar. It's a heavily used secondary wood for making custom cabinets.  You may find a golden source for it within a few miles from you and save considerable money...

Charley

[NC Scroller]

There is some variation of hardness and grain pattern from tree to tree and even from one part to another on the same board.  Wood harvested from Northern regions are slightly denser then the same species harvested from Southern regions as the wood grows slower in Northern regions thus the rings are closer together.  Wood is natural and will always have variations. Poplar especially.  Look at the color variations.  I doubt Lowes would sell Maple as Poplar as even soft maple is twice the price.   I am surprised you don't get your wood from Anchor Hardwood in Wilmington.  When they had a store in Raleigh I shopped there several times and found their prices were very good.    Now I get my Poplar from The Hardwood Store in Gibsonville, NC.  Cost is $2.20 per board foot.  For reference a :

6' long board 6" wide would cost $6.60.

6' long board 9" wide would cost $9.90.

[Iguanadon]

6 minutes ago, NC Scroller said:

There is some variation of hardness and grain pattern from tree to tree and even from one part to another on the same board.  Wood harvested from Northern regions are slightly denser then the same species harvested from Southern regions as the wood grows slower in Northern regions thus the rings are closer together.  Wood is natural and will always have variations. Poplar especially.  Look at the color variations.  I doubt Lowes would sell Maple as Poplar as even soft maple is twice the price.   I am surprised you don't get your wood from Anchor Hardwood in Wilmington.  When they had a store in Raleigh I shopped there several times and found their prices were very good.    Now I get my Poplar from The Hardwood Store in Gibsonville, NC.  Cost is $2.20 per board foot.  For reference a :

6' long board 6" wide would cost $6.60.

6' long board 9" wide would cost $9.90.

I've shopped at Anchor a couple of times before I started doing the animal puzzles.  I was able to get "scrap" pieces of various woods really cheap and I enjoyed going through their bin.  Very nice folks.

The problem is they are way on the other side of Wilmington from me and it's a 30-45 minute drive.  I may give them a call to see what their price would be for 12" wide boards.  Right now I'm paying less than $1.75 per puzzle when I divide out the cost of a board at HD and/or Lowes and how many puzzles I get out of it.    If it's a significant enough savings I could buy a months worth rather than a weeks worth.  (I pass by HD and Lowes twice a week when I take the grand-daughter to pre-school)

[trackman]

I get poplar for $1.80, $1.20 if you are a business. But a bit far away for you LOL east central Indiana.  It is a lumber outlet store ship all over the world.   Frank Miller Lumber 

[NC Scroller]

Iggy, one more point on buying wood from a real lumber supplier and not a Lowes or HD type place.   Most real suppliers have volume pricing.  So if you buy 1-10 bf you pay one price per bf.  You buy more then 10 but less then 50 bf you pay a cheaper price.  More then 50 but less then 100 cheaper still.  More then 100 but less then 200 chearper.  It goes on.  For example where I get mine it is $3.20 per bf for less then 5 bf but $2.10 per bf for 100 bf.  You get the idea.

[rdatelle]

Hi Iggy, I bought a couple of pieces of poplar to at Lowe's and they were a little different. Didn't have any trouble cutting them. I also like that I could get 6 footers instead of 8. I cut out a lot of your puzzle patterns already, some pine and some poplar. My Granddaughter lovers all your cat ones.

 

[Iguanadon]

5 hours ago, rdatelle said:

Hi Iggy, I bought a couple of pieces of poplar to at Lowe's and they were a little different. Didn't have any trouble cutting them. I also like that I could get 6 footers instead of 8. I cut out a lot of your puzzle patterns already, some pine and some poplar. My Granddaughter lovers all your cat ones.

 

Glad you liked the poplar from Lowe's.  I think I got 1 board that was just really hard for whatever reason.  Keep enjoying the puzzles.  They're fun and relaxing to cut and you'll find people to give them away to without much trouble.