At Osborne Wood Products, we supply the cabinet and furniture trade with the highest quality decorative wood components. Naturally, we work hard to source the highest quality wood possible. In an effort to better help our hobbyist and DIY customers make the right choice in which wood types to use in their projects, we are introducing a new blog series in which we go into detail discussing our various wood types and answering any common questions our customers may have.
One of the most common utilitarian hardwoods and the most popular paint grade woods on the market right now is poplar. Poplar has a relatively low density, ranking 540 on the Janka hardness scale. Its sapwood is white and heartwood is generally a light to medium tan. It can also contain stripes or streaks in a number of colors, including green, brown, purple, black, blue, and yellow.
The wood is straight grained, uniform in texture, and moderate to light weight. It machines and glues well, making it an ideal choice for furniture, cabinets, or other applications. It is also often used for pallets, crates, construction grade lumber, and plywood.
Referring specifically to poplar here at Osborne, we consider it a paint grade only option and recommend purchasing it only for painting installations. The reason is we do not limit the number or direction of laminates and we have no restrictions on the use or color of putty or filler. The product you will receive if you order poplar will be ideal for painting only.
All of our wood types are sorted into a Traditional, Premium, or Specialty selection. You can find Poplar under our Traditional selection. In many cases, poplar may be the default wood type as it is also often the least expensive, as well.
Additionally, if you would like a custom part made in poplar, you can contact us for a custom quote by filling out our online form, emailing info@osbornewood.com, or calling 800-849-8876 and speaking with a representative today.
Check out the links below to read more in-depth about all the other wood types we offer:
- Maple (hard, soft, tiger/curly)
- Pine (knotty, heart, specialty)
- Oak (red, white, rift vs. quarter sawn)
- Rubberwood
- European Beech
- Cherry & Alder
- Hickory, Mahogany, & Walnut
- Poplar – this post
- Miscellaneous & Specialty Woods
