Silly question about wood.

O

Omega Leather Works

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Jun 13, 2007
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I'm asking here because I figured someone would know. Stacy, feel free to boot it if you see fit.

I went to Lowes to buy a board for a jig I'm making for the drill press. I grabbed a piece of Poplar because I'm used to working with it. As I was walking down the aisle I saw this board.

rweIwe6.jpg


Had the dimensions I needed and has a bunch of funky eyes. The label just called it White wood. What is it? Is "White Wood" the proper name? I don't recall seeing wood like this while getting lumber.

Anything you can tell me about it is cool.

Thanks guys.
 
I think it could be pine. A wood here in the west that's often, as well, used for shelving. Frank
 
"Whitewood" is a catch-all term for any soft wood variety. That way the lumber buyers for Lowe's can buy whatever is cheap and don't have to be specific or change the skew numbers. Pine, poplar, spruce, any of their cousins,...etc.
 
Well, to be more precise, sorry Stacy, they keep the Poplar separate from the "white wood" but you're correct, Ponderosa Pine, Spruce, Eastern White Pine and any of a half dozen other species can be thrown into the bin and be called "white wood".

Let the buyer beware!
 
With all those knots I would say it was from the very top of the tree, definitely #3 lumber, I have seen that same pattern in bunks of economy studs countless times, we mostly would toss them aside, If you came back and looked at them a few weeks later they would be twisted up like a cork screw
 
I read a quote saying, "White wood is cut from the Eastern Crooked Tree. It has a tendency to twist and warp once nailed to something."
 
Thanks guys. I guess I should have bought the Poplar (I like the stuff I usually use). Hopefully this'll work fine for what I'm using it for. It won't be nailed to anything, just making a simple jig. :)
 
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