Poplar

[Walt2]

Does anyone here have any experience with using poplar for handles. Just wondering if it is too soft.

 

[Matt Shade]

I lamintated some with black cherry to make a new handle for one of my moms paring knives a long time ago. I used Titebond II wood glue, pinned the handle on and finished it with Behlens salad bowl finish. Its held up as good as can be expected to 1000 times through the dishwasher.


Yes, thats right, it does look like crap now


I think its a little soft to use by itself. If you can get a a peice thats all heartwood, and put a good finish on it it might be ok.

 

[Galloglas]

I use a lot of poplar for Japanese style handles and such and love it. For an all out working knife poplar might be a little soft but I think it is beautiful.

I'm gonna make some handle out of poplar and epoxy finish them eventually. They probably wont hold up as well as some other harder woods but I bet they look just fine.

I feel that one should use what they like. Polplar is highly under rated in my opinion.

Brian

 

[rlinger]

I have not but here in WV it is harvested in great quantity for use as fence rails. It should tolorate moisture well for knife use. I have never heard anyone brag abouts its beauty though.

RL

 

[Matt Shade]

Fence rails usually have a lot of sapwood in them and its treated alot of time. I've got quite a bit of poplar fence boards around one of the paddocks actually.
If you can get the heartwood it has a greenish cast to it with a really tight clean grain. Some love it some don't. I've used it for some clocks and furniture and that sort of thing, its fairly nice for carving and I like its looks.
Its soft though, you'll want a pretty durable finish, something that won't flake off if the wood dents a little bit.

 

[rlinger]

Yes on the greenish polplar; I remember that. Locust and hickery is a favorite for fence posts around here. They last many a year in the ground without any artificial treatment. Great fire wood too.

Well, I got off subject again.

RL

 

[pupandcat]

I haven't used any poplar on a knife yet but I plan on using some. I have used a good bit of poplar in general woodworking and like it. Have been saving some pieces that are exceptionally colorfull and with figure. Mineral streaks are often blue, have seen some streaks orange to red. The grean cast is prone to change to brown tones when exposed, even when varnished. I may try having some of my nicer pieces stabilized by one of the commercial outfits.

Be BLessed
Gary

 

[peter nap]

As a matter of fact, I just made a muzzle loading pistol using poplar. It was all I had on hand that was large enough. I expected the worst but have been pleasantly surprised. I have no idea how it will wear but if you round the sharp edges and don't make any super thin edges, it seems strong enough. Sure is a joy to work with.

 

[Architect]

Poplar is pretty cheap, so that part's okay.

Talking from the customer side - I wouldn't ever consider purchasing a knife with a poplar handle.

There are so many fine hardwoods that using poplar is kind of like using a Rhinestone on a wedding ring.

 

[Walt2]

Thanks for the answers. I have used poplar for carving and like it for that. The reason I asked the question about using it for knife handles, another individual told me about a woman selling off several sets of knife scales on eBay that she said was in her husbands shop. Among the sets I noticed that there was some Poplar that had some unusal curly areas. Just curious, that's all.