Jan 28, 2016 yellow poplar is probably the third most important hardwood in our eastern forests, after maple and oak. Although the young growth yellow poplar being harvested today has a tendency to warp when sawn into lumber, new technology has been developed sawdryrip to overcome this problem. Yellow poplar or tulip poplar liriodendron tulipfera yellow poplar also referred to as tulip poplar is the biggest hardwood tree in the eastern north american forests. Poplar has a straight grain that can be wooly at times, but has a fine, even texture. Its soft but dense so its delightfully easy to shape and machine. On the contrary, yellow poplar is a part of the magnolia tree family and is a true hardwood.
The three moduli of rigidity denoted by glr, glt, and grt are the elastic constants in the lr, lt, and rt planes, respectively. The literature on mechanical properties of visually graded yellow poplar suggests that it may be underrated in strength and stiffness properties. I thought dense and light weight we kind on opposite terms. The sapwood of yellow poplar ranges from light yellow to white, the heartwood varies in contrast with color ranging from tan to light brown and even greenish brown. Yellow poplar liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip tree, the tallest hardwood tree in north america, also rates as the most valuable commercial species because its intolerance to shade stifles lower branches and produces a perfect, straight trunk with clear lumber even in small trees. Grade distribution and drying degrade of sweetgum and yellow. Abundant throughout its eastern range, yellow poplar becomes less available farther west. Hardwood lumber yellowpoplar and is sometimes mixed in the shipment of southern lumber. Yellow poplar also called tulip poplar and american tulip has shown a resurgence in popularity in recent years due to its cost and greater abundance. Yellow poplar trunks are easily broken by strong winds. This was 90% of the wood we would use when trimming a house baseboards,casings, door jambs. The term rainbow poplar does not refer to a separate wood species, but rather, is a designation of yellow poplar liriodendron tulipifera that has been mineral stained. The sapwood of yellow poplar ranges from light yellow to white. Mechanical performance of yellowpoplar cross laminated timber milad mohamadzadeh abstract crosslaminated timber clt is a structural wood composite material consisting of multilayers of lumber orthogonal to each other creating massive wood panels.
Much of the yellow poplar today is growing on excellent sites where the american chestnut. I can guarantee the poplar we use has a very distinct smell when cross cut at high speed,as in a mitre saw. The wood is diffuse porous with small, even pores throughout the annual growth ring, resulting in a more subdued grain. It is known to produce lumber that is clear, wide, and straight.
Sep 21, 2017 the yellow poplar is a tree that, with little effort, grows between 70 and 90 feet high. Tulip poplar makes a desirable street, shade, or ornamental tree but the large size it attains makes it unsuited for many sites. Early settlers relied heavily on old growth yellow poplar to make barn siding. Sweet birch ranks slightly above yellow birch in most strength properties. In the south, magnolia may also be mixed with yellowpoplar but it too can be separated anatomically. Shop appearance boards and a variety of building supplies products online at. Yellow poplar lumber for exterior architectural applications in new construction and for historical restoration daniel l. Yellow poplar was adjudged a bankrupt and the bankruptcy case was closed in 1931. Pine and douglas fir lumber, moody and others 1993 recently showed that yellow poplar beams can be manufactured with comparable engineering properties to those of softwoods.
If you cant find something you need here, please visit the store or contact us. Strength and stiffness properties of sweetgum and yellow. Hardwood lumber from american lumber yellow poplar. These properties are represented as the average mechanical properties of the species. Sawmill operations sawmills american lumber company owns and operates its own hardwood lumber. Yet despite its favorable potential for growth and the desirable properties of the wood, relatively few yellow poplar plantations are being established. Unfortunately, decay in yellow poplar lumber can be a serious issue in just a few years figures 1 and 2. Equations were developed that, when applied to a sample of 126 yellow poplar trees in illinois, kentucky, and ohio, predicted a value of lumber yield within 2 percent of the value computed.
Yellow poplar forest products laboratory forest service. Some woodworkers prefer the often striking colors of yellow poplar s heartwood. This publication will discuss the positive and negative attributes of. Data the data used came from yellow poplar tree diagrams originally collected as part of an overall study developed at the carbondale, illinois, field office of the central states forest experiment station to establish hardwood tree grades. Due to this light weight, the mechanical properties of yellow poplar wood are less than those of the denser hardwood species. Strength and stiffness properties of sweetgum and yellow poplar structural lumber timothy d. Zarnoch abstract the forest resource base in the southeast is rapidly changing.
Yellow poplar constitutes % of the timber volume in indiana. Dimension yields from yellow poplar lumber robert c. This paper describes the data collection methods and the format of the new west virginia yellow poplar lumber defect database. This soft grain pattern makes it one of the best woods for painted furniture or cabinets. Yellow poplar lumber goosebay sawmill and lumber, inc. Yellowpoplar is probably the third most important hardwood in our eastern forests, after maple and oak. Cassens, professor of wood products and extension specialist, purdue university michael o. The author has seen both boxelder and aspen mixed with yellowpoplar. The most common species in the united states, yellow poplar liriodendron tulipifera, is found throughout the.
Yellow poplar grows widely in large quantities across the eastern united states. If you are looking for superior lumber, we supply many types, including poplar. In the bankruptcy proceeding, a decree of the districtcourt directed the conveyance of tract 10 to c. Yellow poplar has a unique leaf with four lobes separated by rounded notches. The relationship between these strength modes was also investigated. Perfect for a variety of projects, builders choice premium poplar wood is easy to. Choos ing the right wood home built using yellow poplar lumber milled on a portable sawmill from trees grown on a farm in southern ohio. Also called tuliptree or tulippoplar because of the flower and leaf. Mechanical performance of yellow poplar cross laminated timber milad mohamadzadeh abstract crosslaminated timber clt is a structural wood composite material consisting of multilayers of lumber orthogonal to each other creating massive wood panels. I also have a different experience with yellow poplar. Characteristics among the commercially important u. Dimension yields from yellowpoplar lumber forest products.
Yellow poplar is most commonly used for carving and, though available through home improvement retail outlets, is sold at its highest grade in lumber. The resulting mineral stained woodwhich, although not necessarily common, is by no means rare or scarceexhibits a variety of colors ranging from green, purple. Yellow poplar grows widely and in large quantities across the eastern united states. United states west virginia yellowpoplar lumber defect database. Poplar wood and longevity the soft wood of the yellow poplar makes it very valuable tree for making furniture, toys and musical instruments but it also limits the longevity and survival of individual trees and contributes to a rapid cycle of sun gap formation. Liriodendron tulipifera an overview sciencedirect topics. The variation in coloration doesnt affect poplar s. North to central michigan, central new york and southern new england.
Yellow poplar is most commonly used for carving and, though available through home improvement retail outlets, is sold at its highest grade in lumber yards. Yellowpoplar was probably named because of the yellow color of the wood from old trees. Yellow poplar is also known as tulip poplar and tulipwood. It is used for furniture stock, veneer and pulpwood. Mechanical performance of yellowpoplar cross laminated. This is not a complete list of items carried in our store. And i have yet to see any wood that does not warp, well other than pertrified wood.
Results indicate that sweetgum equals or exceeds yellow poplar in strength and stiffness overall, and on a gradebygrade basis. Dwindling reserves of high quality pine sawlogs will provide incentives to utilize lowdensity hardwoods such as yellow poplar and. It can reach a height of 160 feet and a width of 10 feet. Much taller trees of this species occur in its geographic range, with some specimens measured at over 150 feet. Yellowpoplar lumber for exterior architectural applications. Yellow poplar or tulip poplar is the tallest hardwood tree in north america with one of the most perfect and straight trunks in the forest.
Pdf yellowpoplar lumber for exterior architectural. Poplar should be affordably priced, especially in the eastern united states where it naturally grows. It grows in a wide distribution from new england southward to florida and westward to missouri. Our results show that a continuous predictor for the lumber recovery of standing yellwolar trees is feasible. This would happen more when there was heat generated by friction and a slight saw burn. Since 1960, production of yellow poplar lumber has accounted for a relatively constant proportion averaging 9 percent of total hardwood production. Liriodendron tulipiferaknown as the tulip tree, american tulip tree, tulipwood, tuliptree, tulip poplar, whitewood, fiddletree, and yellow poplar is the north american representative of the twospecies genus liriodendron the other member is liriodendron chinense, and the tallest eastern hardwood. However, there is also another wood that shares the name.
If you require a hardwood species not listed, or to purchase lengths. As yellow poplar was depleted in these areas, the timber industry moved west and south for new sources of lumber. Yellowpoplar forestry and natural resources university of. Forest management forest management our timber harvesting programs are diverse and. As a result, standards for yellow poplar glulam timber beam combinations with stiffness and strength properties comparable to softwoods are being incorporated by the. Poplar, also referred to as tulip poplar, yellow poplar, or white poplar, dimensional hardwood lumber is ready for your craftsmanship to be made into cabinets, furniture, trim, or your own special project. Planting yellowpoplar southern research station usda. Each of these species, however, can be separated with certainty.
Mechanical performance of yellowpoplar cross laminated timber. It can reach a height of 30m 100ft and a diameter of about 1m 3ft 3in in good growing conditions. American lumber company purchases hardwood veneer logs and saw logs from loggers and landowners year round. However, yellow poplar is not actually a type of poplar wood at all. Poplar s4s lumber, poplar flat stock, and poplar boards. If you require a hardwood species not listed, or to purchase lengths longer than 12 please call us at 18007321697 or email. In the south, magnolia may also be mixed with yellow poplar but it too can be separated anatomically. Therefore, it is widely used for a great variety of products and applications.
Poplar s4s lumber, poplar flat stock, and poplar boards from. Yellow poplar is a hardwood that floats almost as readily as a softwood. Therefore, it is used for a great variety of products and applications. The available supply of yellow poplar liriodendron tulipiferal. Poplar populus balsamifera is a large size tree that originated in north america. Poplar s4s boards add elegant finishing details and emphasize the special care that has gone into your homes interior. The wood of paper birch is considerably lighter than the other two birches and ranks below them. On july 17, 1928, white oak lumber company filed a petition in the united states district court for the western district of south carolina1 to have yellow poplar lumber company, inc.
Unfortunately, todays millwork grade yellow poplar is mostly sapwood and many contractors have continued to use it just as the old growth supply but very often with the resulting problem of early decay. The tight grain makes the perfect choice for stain or paint, but poplar works fine with a clear finish, too. Dimension yields from yellowpoplar lumber robert c. Woods with less favorable furniture characteristics and consequently lower value e. Common species ash basswood beech birch cherry hard maple hickory red oak soft maple walnut white oak yellow poplar. When people refer to poplar wood, there are generally referring to white poplar. Yellow poplar is a bit denser than basswood, and aspen, but it is still amongst the lightest hardwoods in this part of the world. Whether you are contractor, home builder, craftsman or otherwise, we guarantee that you will find everything you need for your next project. The use of yellowpoplar as dimension lumber has been. We use wood because it is easy to work with, inexpensive, durable, and readily available.
In the average timber stand yellow poplar either becomes one of the tallest species in the stand. Many of the mechanical properties of wood tabulated in this chapter were derived from extensive sampling and analysis procedures. Wood handbookchapter 4mechanical properties of wood. Maybe a little stronger and harder than white pine, but not by much. It is a creamy whitecolored wood with brown or gray sections or streaks through the grain. It is a valued specialuse wood, and also an important wood of general utihty. Hunt, professor emeritus of wood science, purdue university. Poplar wood one of the most used secondary woods for paint grade lumber, drawer sides and furniture backs fast growing hardwood trees often grow quite large quiet grain, easy to work characteristics of poplar origin of wood type usa.
Strength and stiffness of reinforced yellowpoplar glued. Poplar is a type of hardwood that can be either yellow or white. Poplar is a versatile and inexpensive wood for carvers, strong enough to hold elaborate detail and yet soft enough to stand out among available options of hardwood. Hanover, wood products extension specialist north carolina state university, raleigh, n. American tulip, wood is routinely the tallest, largest, clearest, and. Perfect for a variety of projects, builders choice premium poplar wood is easy to work with and great for machining and finishing. Boards are surfaced four sides s4s with flat and parallel faces and edges. Yellow poplar has a strong potential to become a major species for structural purposes in the future. This wood species is not listed in the cites appendices or on the iucn red list of threatened species. In terms of volume it is surpassed only by the oaks. The potential use of yellow poplar in glulam timber needs careful 2 table 2average bending and tensile strength properties of yellow poplar and southern. Pdf yellow poplar liriodendron tulipifera also known as the tulip tree or tulip poplar is a popular tree in the southern united states. Q how much shrinkage in drying should we see in yellow poplar and eastern cottonwood lumber a this sounds like an easy question to answer all i have to do is look up the numbers in a book. Rainbow poplar the wood database lumber identification.
At the time of its bankruptcy, yellow poplar was the owner of certain tracts of land described as tracts 10 and 11 in a deed dated january 6, 1906, from excelsior coal and lumber company excelsior to yellow poplar. A basic guide to softwoods and hardwoods by michael buckley, fiwsc the commonlyused terms softwood and hardwood are, in fact, rather misleading. District court south carolina in 1928, then transferred to u. Liriodendron tulipiferaknown as the tulip tree, american tulip tree, tulipwood, tuliptree, tulip poplar, whitewood, fiddletree, and yellowpoplaris the north american representative of the twospecies genus liriodendron the other member is liriodendron chinense, and the tallest eastern hardwood. Since 1972 it has ranked second only to the oaks in the volume of hardwood lumber produc tion. Chapter 5 mechanical properties of wood modulus of rigidity the modulus of rigidity, also called shear modulus, indicates the resistance to deflection of a member caused by shear stresses. Some properties, such as tension parallel to the grain, and all properties for some. This makes the yellow poplar one of the easts tallest trees. Today, yellow poplar is still used for siding due to its availability, low cost, paintability, and resistance to warp and shrinkage, as seen in the photo below. The straight grained wood varies in color from pale yellow brown to pale brown.
Historically, humans have used wood and wood products for shelter, fire, and in war, making wood an integral part of our civilization. Gardenvariety poplar wood is also sometimes referred to as yellow poplar or whitewood, but you may also find stocks of poplar that include european black poplar, cottonwood, or some types of aspen. For some softwoods can be quite hard such as southern yellow pine. How to avoid shrinkage in drying yellow poplar, cottonwood. Seldom used for its appearance, except in the case of rainbow poplar, poplar is a utility wood in nearly every. Poplar the wood database lumber identification hardwood. The heartwood is yellowishbrown and can be streaked with purple, green, black, blue, or red. The author has seen both boxelder and aspen mixed with yellow poplar. The objective of this study was to establish strength and stiffness data on sweetgum dimension lumber in bending, tension, and compression modes. Yellow poplar identification of common north american woods. Yellow poplar plywood is used for furniture and shipping containers.
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