Hi Peter

Turners that do not live in Canada will rarely if ever come across a
Balsam Poplar, only in the extreme north-east part of USA is it also
prevalent, and also the poplar and willow is not used much for turning
because it is soft wood and just not thought of highly, some are also
smelly, though it never sopped me from turning Willow, Poplar, Elm,
Oak, etc.
Of course it is very hard to distinguish between some Poplars species,
but the Poplar I have turned was/is soft wood and easily damaged, and
good tool orientation to have it cutting and not scraping is needed all
the time, not everyone seems to be able to pull that off.
There can be very striking figure in the stress wood at the branch/log
junction and also in the crotch wood, also the drying of the wood is
mostly without any splitting or checking problems.
You have the tree there, and I would suggest to see if you can find
some of the figured wood, and turn that for sure, then you can decide
if you want to turn any more, you'll have to get it off of the ground
though, the wood likes to stain quickly.
Also a "let us know, about it" afterward.

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

big pete wrote:
I had a tree come down in our forest last week in a wind storm. I have
been cutting firewood in this forest for 20 years now and this is the
first time I have come across a balsm poplar. It has a white sap wood
and a very rich redish brown heartwood. I have roughed out one bowl so
far. I did a search on this NG but came up with nothing. Has anyone
turned balsam poplar. What are the characteristics of this wood is
there a reason no one turns

Thanks in advance


Peter