Pine or Hardwood.

[poolhound]

I am buliding a hall table cabinet and it will be painted. It will be plywood construction for the casing. I will be adding draws, door and a face frame but bilut from what is teh question......

As it will be painted, and laquered will a good clean pine be OK or do I need to go to a hardwood?

Jon

[Tequila]

Since you're painting it, I'd go with pine. Save the money and the oak for projects that will be stained.

[LarryG]

Or maybe poplar, a hardwood of moderate density which machines nicely and takes paint very well. I don't disagree with the choice of pine as a species, per se, but at least around here the good clear pine that is worthy of using in furniture costs virtually the same as poplar. As the saying goes, "Check your local listings."

[poolhound]

Or maybe poplar, a hardwood of moderate density which machines nicely and takes paint very well. I don't disagree with the choice of pine as a species, per se, but at least around here the good clear pine that is worthy of using in furniture costs virtually the same as poplar. As the saying goes, "Check your local listings."

Good call on the Poplar I will check it out.

Jon

[Pappy]

Poplar or Sycamore would be my choice for a painted piece.

[atgcpaul]

Go poplar

Poplar is great for paint. It has a much smoother surface than pine and you
don't have to worry about sap.

[poolhound]

Poplar is great for paint. It has a much smoother surface than pine and you
don't have to worry about sap.

Looks like Poplar has the Popular vote !!!

[jziegler]

Poplar or Sycamore would be my choice for a painted piece.

Where are you getting Sycamore that you'd use it for a painted piece? Around here, I don't think that even Woodcraft or the hardwood yards have Sycamore...

To the original poster, either the pine of poplar work fine for painting. At HD or Lowes, price difference is almost non-existant if you look at the select pine (clearest). If that's the case, the poplar is a better wood.

Jim

[JimD]

If you use pine, seal it with shellac to avoid bleed through.

[venkatbo]

Also, recently a variety of eucalyptus from So.America is becoming popular - referred to as lyptus - has all the properties of poplar noted above, but grows very fast, dense, straight & tall it seems. They think it will be the next big (inexpensive) hardwood

Our ww teach showed us a sample and looks quite good - suitable for stains as well as paints.

/venkat

[ted van halen]

I'm no sap. I o'pine' for the poplar too.

Can I get cheese w/ that?