Rotary Stock Source

[mtylerfl]

I LOVE Alder...built an entire kitchen with the stuff back in the 80's...oops, I meant the late 70's. (Well, I also used some Birch Ply with that build, too.)

It does machine well on a CNC, as well. Trying to remember which POM I used it on...was it a CarveWright or Vectric POM? ...can't remember. I'll look for some Alder blocks for the rotary...I also found some Poplar blocks at the place I bought the Basswood, so I'll try some of that too. I've not tried Poplar on rotary, so maybe I'll get lucky this time.

[cestout]

My 2 main woods are poplar and alder. A cabinet maker I met a my lumber yard told me that it mimics cherry when stained properly, so I tried it. It has better grain patterns than cherry and is more consistent in color. Someone here told me that gel stain is the secret to staining poplar (very true), so I will tell you that secret to poplar fuzzes is a 180 grit then 220 grit mop.
Clint

[mtylerfl]

Thanks, Clint. I like Poplar for its ability to make it look like a variety of close-grained hardwoods via staining. I have a narrow (depth) hall table I built with a Poplar top surface. I swear it looks just like Walnut! (used a warm walnut stain - I think I mixed my own custom batch back then).

I'm anxious to try some Poplar and Alder blocks with the CW Rotary!