How is poplar to turn

[Popeye]

For a rookie..... Now that I have the lathe set back up after all these years I have a project that I quit on two years ago that I'd like to get back to.

I'm at the point that I need to turn the finial on the top and add the arched framing. What I have is alot of white oak, poplar and a (very little and precious walnut and padauk). Being a rookie I kind of hate to get into the walnut and padauk. I'm figuring I can stain the poplar but if it's not a good wood to turn there isn't sense to waste my time. Thanks Pat

[Ken Massingale]

It's fun to turn, Pat. It's one of the woods I prefer to turn, especially a piece with green/brown and white.
k

edit: what the blazes is that thing?

[DonHo]

Just a beginner myself but I have turned a few practice bowls out of 8/4 poplar. It turns well as it's fairly soft and straight grained. I think you'll like turning it.


DonHo

[Tom Miller]

My first impression is that poplar would be a great choice for ease of turning. Seems like just the right compromise in hardness; not too hard, but still tight enough grain for a very smooth finish. You can do a fair amount of final shaping with abrasives. The only down side is that it might seem kind of "blaah" once finished (not a very interesting grain).

One of my early turning projects was to make ~8-10 replacement corbels for a SIL's porch from a pattern. I chose poplar since they were going to be painted. They were very easy to make, and turned out quite well. I made 4x stock by gluing up 3/4" boards.

Regards,
Tom

[bigsteel15]

edit: what the blazes is that thing?

My guess is a fancy clock.

[cgallery]

My guess is a fancy clock.

Doomsday machine?

[jl]

what the blazes is that thing?

It's a marble roll. ?

[Popeye]

It's fun to turn, Pat. It's one of the woods I prefer to turn, especially a piece with green/brown and white.
k

edit: what the blazes is that thing?

Well, it's kind of a Rube Goldberg marble machine. http://www.cherrytreetoys.com/store/...item=3&mitem=3
Just too neat not to try and build. Pat