I'm constructing a "cigar bar" for my daughter's upcoming wedding.  Bottom
is traditional frame & panel, already painted a "colonial blue".  The top
will be constructed of poplar, mainly because I'm not sure if the bar will
have any use after the reception, so I don't want to sacrifice the cherry or
walnut I have squirrel away.

Anyhow, I looking to this list for some finishing suggestions to make the
poplar look "cherry" like!  I've been thinking of an aniline dye and some
sort of film top coat.  Any suggestions or warnings?  I also apologize for
this post for being a bit "off topic".

Thanks!

T.Z.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tony asks how to make poplar look 'cherry like'.

As you know, it'll never look exactly like poplar.  But a long time ago one
of my first projects was a box to hold newspapers that we would use to start
a fire in the fireplace.  I made it out of poplar and decided it would be a
good project to learn how to use shellac.  I kept applying thin coats of
garnet shellac (from Paddy, back in the day) and in the end it has that aged
cherry color to it.  Upon close inspection of the grain, you can easily tell
that it's not cherry.  But from a short distance I'd say it's 'cherry like'.

The good thing is that it's easy to apply and reversible.  Give it a try on
some scrap and see what you think.

~Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------

In my experience, a wash coat is a must with poplar. And even a 1lb cut
of orange shellac will blotch a little. While I have no suggestion as to
color, I've had good experience with oil stains like Varathane. I leave
alot of stain on, so that it's almost like staining and glazing at the
same time. The grain - what there is of it - shows up well, without
calling attention to itself. Once I have the color, I usually finish
with MinWax Antique Oil. I'm building book shelves on a cabinet base
right now from poplar, and using Varathane American Walnut.

Tom Ellis Dayton OH


> -----Original Message----- From: oldtools-bounces@r...> [mailto:oldtools-
> bounces@r...] On Behalf Of> Tony Zaffuto Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009
> 9:05 PM To: oldtools@r... Subject: [OldTools] poplar
>> I'm constructing a "cigar bar" for my daughter's upcoming>
>> wedding. Bottom
> is traditional frame & panel, already painted a "colonial> blue". The
> top will be constructed of poplar, mainly because I'm not sure if> the
> bar will have any use after the reception, so I don't want to>
> sacrifice the cherry or walnut I have squirrel away.
>> Anyhow, I looking to this list for some finishing suggestions> to
>> make the
> poplar look "cherry" like! I've been thinking of an aniline> dye and
> some sort of film top coat. Any suggestions or warnings? I also>
> apologize for this post for being a bit "off topic".
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>-

thinking we have lost our bearings on what the list is
> all about.

  Me too Steve! I see too much apologizin in general lately.
  What, do we all have myopically narrow one-track minds?
  And what is that one track supposed to be?
  And what would be the penalty for wandering???

  Hey I can barely keep my attention deficit mind on anything for long, 
let alone one single subject of any kind!!

    Meanwhile, poplar, besides being a favorite secondary wood for 
drawer sides and such going back forever, has always been a prime choice 
for paint.
   It takes and holds paint like a champ. None better.

   It takes stain just as good. This kind of means it takes stain as 
evenly and uninterestingly uniform as paint.

   The modern furniture factory's dream wood. Where all the colors are 
opaque matchy matchy and customers are trained at birth to stare at a 
finish and try to decide if it matches.
  ( Its the only thing they teach at retail consumer school, btw. Color 
matching.)

  Me, I will stain and let dry, then sand through -at least- part of it 
here and there so it looks more like actual wood and not some 
homogenized factory dreck.

   You take long strokes down the grain and pretty soon the general 
appearance of natural wood can be imitated pretty good.
  Sand a bit and take a look.   Little more and change the viewing angle 
or light.
On like that, until you're satisfied.

  yours Scott

*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I don't know  how to turn poplar into cherry, but I'd like to 
paraphrase James Brown and say once, and loud, OLDTOOLS IS A 
WOODWORKING GROUP, OF WHICH WE ARE PROUD!

Regards,
Steve - noticing a trend for apologies for general woodworking 
questions, and thinking we have lost our bearings on what the list is 
all about.

>
> Jul 29, 2009 01:05:10 AM, tzmti@c... wrote:
> [snip]
>
> Anyhow, I looking to this list for some finishing suggestions to make 
> the
> poplar look "cherry" like! I've been thinking of an aniline dye and 
> some
> sort of film top coat. Any suggestions or warnings? I also apologize 
> for
> this post for being a bit "off topic".

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scott replies:

>   It takes stain just as good. This kind of means it takes stain as evenly 
> and uninterestingly uniform as paint.

It's a rare day when I disagree with Scott, but I have to on this one. 
Poplar, like most pine, absorbs stain unevenly and results in a blotchy 
finish.  Scott is right on about the paint finish, but I wouldn't use poplar 
for any application which requires a stain.  If you must stain poplar, use a 
gel stain and put it on pretty thick.

Ken Vaughn 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't have photos to actually prove this (I know, I know: no pic,
didn't happen), but I've had fairly good luck with mahogany gel stain on
poplar. It doesn't actually look like mahogany, but it doesn't look like
poplar, either. And I had to be pretty liberal with the stain and use
quite a few coats.

My next project will be poplar with milk paint. Never worked with milk
paint, so no idea what to expect there. I do enjoy working with poplar,
though, so it's a shame it's such a pain to do much with once the
construction is over. Agreed on the painting recommendation: it paints
really, really well.

J

On Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 9:32 PM, Ken Vaughn wrote:
> Scott replies:
>
>> =A0It takes stain just as good. This kind of means it takes stain as
>> evenly and uninterestingly uniform as paint.
>
> It's a rare day when I disagree with Scott, but I have to on this one.
> Poplar, like most pine, absorbs stain unevenly and results in a
> blotchy finish. =A0Scott is right on about the paint finish, but I
> wouldn't use poplar for any application which requires a stain. =A0If
> you must stain poplar, use a gel stain and put it on pretty thick.
>
> Ken Vaughn
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ: http://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r... http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lockwood Dyes .... make poplar look like cherry.

You might have to experiment with sealer coats on the poplar though.  And 
you might have to experiment to decide whether you use water or oil based 
dyes.  that usually depends upon your top coat finish.  Meaning you can't 
use an oil dye and then an oil top coat.

Google "lockwood dyes" and you will get a number of wholesale (manufacturer)
and retail sources.

These dyes are excellent quality, reasonably priced and work well.  Remember
though -- a little does go a long way.  And if you use water based dyes, use
steam distilled water to avoid any mineral and/or chemical contamination.

Best of luck.

Matt Prusik

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Zaffuto" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 9:05 PM
Subject: [OldTools] poplar

> I'm constructing a "cigar bar" for my daughter's upcoming wedding.  Bottom
> is traditional frame & panel, already painted a "colonial blue".  The top
> will be constructed of poplar, mainly because I'm not sure if the bar will
> have any use after the reception, so I don't want to sacrifice the cherry
> or
> walnut I have squirrel away.
>
> Anyhow, I looking to this list for some finishing suggestions to make the
> poplar look "cherry" like!  I've been thinking of an aniline dye and some
> sort of film top coat.  Any suggestions or warnings?  I also apologize for
> this post for being a bit "off topic".
>
> Thanks!
>
> T.Z.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r...
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>

------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Erhardt wrote:
>  I've had fairly good luck with mahogany gel stain on poplar. It
>  doesn't actually look like mahogany, but it doesn't look like poplar,
>  either.
I just procured a poplar bookcase to match an Ethan Allen Cherry
bookcase, and the closest match was the mahogany stain. It all
depends on what you're trying to make it appear like, new cherry, old
cherry, etc.

--
Kirk Eppler in HMB, CA Pharmaceutical and Packaging Engineering
eppler.kirk@g...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ken Vaughn wrote:
> Scott replies:
>
>> It takes stain just as good. This kind of means it takes stain as
>> evenly and uninterestingly uniform as paint.
>
> It's a rare day when I disagree with Scott, but I have to on this one.
> Poplar, like most pine, absorbs stain unevenly and results in a blotchy
> finish. Scott is right on about the paint finish, but I wouldn't use
> poplar for any application which requires a stain. If you must stain
> poplar, use a gel stain and put it on pretty thick.

It should be noted that there are two things that are commonly called 
"popular" in the US.  In the east, one can frequently buy "poplar" that 
is really Liriodendron tulipifera or tulip poplar.  This is a much 
better lumber than the Populus spp. species, some of which are also 
confusingly named poplar.  For example, balsam poplar (Populus sect. 
Tacamahaca), which is nearly worthless for furniture.

So it is entirely possible for both of you to be right :)

Graham
------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 
> It should be noted that there are two things that are commonly called 
> "popular" in the US. 

Or popple, or cottonwood, or aspen.

Another example of why the Latin name is so helpful when talking 
about trees, particularly when two people are from different regions.
Regional names are misleading unless you're both from the same area
because the same name is often used to describe different trees.

Erik von Sneidern
www.disstonianinstitute.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------