[Fix'n it]

i am thinking about buying the wood to do the trim and baseboard in the room i am finishing up. i would love to have cherry, but that could get costly. oak has too much of a defined grain. i am looking for a softer grain. cost is an issue, as i will be needing a lot of it. is will be stained to a bit of a darker color.
what are my options ?

 

[joecaption]

Concider birch.
Might want to try hand picking some clear stain grade pine, use some wood conditioner then some gel stain and see if that comes close enough.

 

[md2lgyk]

Consider poplar, if you can find it. Inexpensive, almost no grain, and it takes stain well.

 

[Fix'n it]

lowes has poplar. and the price seems fine. do they make doors in poplar ? or something that would, at least somewhat, match it .

 

[oldrivers]

lowes has poplar. and the price seems fine. do they make doors in poplar ? or something that would, at least somewhat, match it .

does poplar pine stain well ? ive always seen it painted but not sure if its a good candidate for stain ,. id like to know aswell . as far as doors i havent seen poplar doors at lowes or any of the box stores. oops didnt see post #3 .

 

[funfool]

I never stained poplar before ... I heard it is paint grade only and sucks at stain.

 

[retired guy 60]

At Home Depot you can cut lumber yourself and pay by the foot. Maybe you could buy a one foot legth of poplar and try different stains to see if you like it. I noticed that stains now come in a gel form as well as a liquid. There is even a prestain sealer (possibly Minwax) that seals wood prior to staining to give a more even result. Probably unneeded for poplar but worth taking a look at. I have not had good luck with products that are a polyurethane/stain mix.

 

[ToolSeeker]

Poplar can be stained to mimic other more costly woods but if I am correct it is a 2 or 3 step process Maybe try a couple of the wood working forums they may be able to help you more.

 

[oh'mike]

Are you going to make the trim or buy it?

If you are going to make it---I'll give you the names of two mills --where you can get #1 common cherry for a very good price----within an easy drive for you--

If you are buying---see if OWL HARDWOOD has a store near you----good selection and better prices than the big box stores.

 

[Fix'n it]

Poplar can be stained to mimic other more costly woods but if I am correct it is a 2 or 3 step process


Maybe try a couple of the wood working forums they may be able to help you more.

that would be fine, as i am in not hurry.

yeah, after i posted this thread, i saw the woodworking forum link. i will have to register over there.

 

[oh'mike]

Poplar can be stained to mimic other more costly woods but if I am correct it is a 2 or 3 step process Maybe try a couple of the wood working forums they may be able to help you more.

If you hand select the wood, so you avoid the dark patches so common with poplar---to can stain the wood rather easily---
I like the Verathane brand stains as they don't seem to blotch as easily as the Minwax stains---but either one could be used---

 

[Fix'n it]

Are you going to make the trim or buy it?

If you are going to make it---I'll give you the names of two mills --where you can get #1 common cherry for a very good price----within an easy drive for you--

If you are buying---see if OWL HARDWOOD has a store near you----good selection and better prices than the big box stores.

how did i miss this post ? idk

i am making it. but it is going to be a very simple design.

something like this, or there abouts.
http://www.timberandsteelinc.com/uploads/3/1/7/2/3172067/8395085_orig.jpg

 

[oh'mike]

I'll PM you---Do you have a planer and a table saw and a router?

 

[ddawg16]

I've done the 'make it yourself' route with moulding.....not worth my time.....by the time you buy the wood....get the bits (which are REAL expensive)....just not worth it.

Personally, I'm tired of the look of oak...great wood for wear and tear...but just tired of it.....

Poplar is a good general wood to work with....easy to make it look like maple or cherry....just avoid the batches that look green.

Alder is a really good wood if you can get it....they call it the 'great imposter'.....it can be made to look like so many other words.

I typically use mostly birch and poplar for a majority of my projects....poplar is great for face frames.....hard enough to hold up but will stain to match most other woods.

I would have a look for a moulding supply.....HD is not your source. I'm lucky in that I have a couple of good one pretty close.

You might also look into ordering online. If your buying enough, it might be worth the shipping costs.

 

[oh'mike]

DDAWG---We are a Sunday drive from some nice lumber mills---I buy common cherry for less than you pay for pine----walnut in Wisconsin can be had for around $2.00 a bd foot---

Well worth a drive---last trip $600 got me nearly 300 bd feet of cherry---you are in a bad area for hardwoods----

 

[ddawg16]

Pine? Oh yea.....that is what they frame houses with.......

Actually.....you would be surprised at what I get wood for. I was getting soft maple for $1.60 bd ft back in 2000 when I was building my kitchen cabinets.

Cherry is a great looking wood....but you need to know how to stain it right....all too often I see people ruining it with the wrong stains (just my opinion).

I have a great moulding shop nearby.....on average I pay about $0.80-1.25/ft for hw moulding. They also carry rough cut and finished on 3 sides hw planks...oak, cherry, alder, poplar and birch. Average price is $2-3.50/br ft.

I would love to be near a mill.....the down side....my garage is not big enough....because I have no doubt I would end up filling up my trailer in just one trip.

 

[Fix'n it]

I'll PM you---Do you have a planer and a table saw and a router?

mike, thanx for the info.

i have a cheap table saw and router. but i am not planning on shaping the boards = just cutting them to length and finishing.
CRAFTSMAN style.

 

[oh'mike]

Without a surface planer you will need to have the wood planed at the mill---not a big expense--

Obviously ,to make the savings worth while,you would need to buy a large quantity or the gas used will eat up your savings----

If you enjoy woodworking---and want to take a nice ride to rural Michigan---do stop in at one of the many mills in southern Michigan----the one mill I mentioned--Hickory and Oak LLC in Delphi Michigan is worth looking in on---He has some really unusual wood in his 'oh,my god' rack---the man likes wood ---

 

[Fix'n it]

mike. i want to buy the wood is usable condition, perhaps a little sanding.
and i would not be buying enough to make a trip like that economical.
i like wood working. but i have sooo much on my plate, that i want this to be a "git-er-done" project.

 

[rossfingal]

Try this place -
http:/www.heidlerhardwood.com
They're on Damen Ave. in Chicago.

"RF"
Heidler Hardwood Lumber