Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of? Does
anyone know its decay resistent properties. I plan to paint them.
Nevertheless if it is a poor choice I would use an alternative wood.

Thanks,
Mark.

Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of? Does
anyone know its decay resistent properties. I plan to paint them.
Nevertheless if it is a poor choice I would use an alternative wood.

Thanks,
Mark.

I have never seen poplar specified for exterior use. I don't think it's very
good outdoors.
I think some nice fir would be a good choice.

Dean H. wrote:
Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of? Does
anyone know its decay resistent properties. I plan to paint them.
Nevertheless if it is a poor choice I would use an alternative wood.

Thanks,
Mark.

I have never seen poplar specified for exterior use. I don't think it's very
good outdoors.
I think some nice fir would be a good choice.

Poplar would be a _terrible_ choice for outdoor use. It's
decay-resistant properties are essentially nonexistent.

Traditionally, window stock was white pine which mills easily and
weathers well. Fir isn't a bad choice except it does tend to splinter
when milled. If you're only planning on square stock, not such an
issue. Cyprus is another choice.

--

"Cyprus" would also be a _terrible_ choice. However, 'cypress' might work
well. Especially if painted. Cypress is not the "weather proof" wonder
many people think. It will last longer than most in a natural state, but
not more than 10 years or so. I learned the hard way - built a nice fence
from new, air dried cypress lumber, only to see it rot down and collapse
after about 15 years.

babygrand



Poplar would be a _terrible_ choice for outdoor use. It's
decay-resistant properties are essentially nonexistent.

Traditionally, window stock was white pine which mills easily and weathers
well. Fir isn't a bad choice except it does tend to splinter when milled.
If you're only planning on square stock, not such an issue. Cyprus is
another choice.

--

Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of?

Never! Years ago, before I knew better, I covered an exterior wall
with poplar battens. Even though it was well painted, the damn thing
rotted within a year. I didn't ask beforehand, and only wanted to use
an inexpensive wood.

Joel

babygrand wrote:
"Cyprus" would also be a _terrible_ choice.

Yeah, the natives might get restless...a big "oopsies" there for sure,
good buddy...

However, 'cypress' might work well. Especially if painted. ...

Of course...pine/fir/whatever should be protected _somehow_ for exterior
use. Paint is normally the protection of choice and I would presume it
a given for the application.

--

On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:26:21 -0700, wrote:

Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of? Does
anyone know its decay resistent properties. I plan to paint them.
Nevertheless if it is a poor choice I would use an alternative wood.

Poplar is really bad outside.

White oak (but not red) is excellent, and pine is decent. Cedar is
very decay resistant, but soft, so it's less suitable for thin parts..
Some lumber dealers can get lower grades of white oak for very
reasonable prices. It's used for truck decking, durable pallets, and
old-school exterior trim. If the windows are going to be removed and
replaced as seasons change, handled often, or have thin structural
parts, I'd look into white oak.

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On Jun 22, 2:04 pm, "babygrand" wrote:
"Cyprus" would also be a _terrible_ choice. However, 'cypress' might work
well. Especially if painted. Cypress is not the "weather proof" wonder
many people think. It will last longer than most in a natural state, but
not more than 10 years or so. I learned the hard way - built a nice fence
from new, air dried cypress lumber, only to see it rot down and collapse
after about 15 years.

That's a bit odd, but fifteen years isn't too bad, depending on the
exposure and construction. Fences aren't forever, which will come to
quite a surprise when all of these vinyl abominations...errr, fences
start falling apart. Before the vinyl fence lynch mob arrives, let me
say that I've seen a very few good examples of vinyl fencing. Few and
far between.

I lived in New Orleans - home of abused wood structures - and Cypress
held up as well as anything except teak and the like. You can drive
by cypress groves that were logged 50 years ago and the stumps are
still standing there like they were cut last year.

R

RicodJour wrote:
On Jun 22, 2:04 pm, "babygrand" wrote:
"Cyprus" would also be a _terrible_ choice. However, 'cypress' might work
well. Especially if painted. Cypress is not the "weather proof" wonder
many people think. It will last longer than most in a natural state, but
not more than 10 years or so. I learned the hard way - built a nice fence
from new, air dried cypress lumber, only to see it rot down and collapse
after about 15 years.

That's a bit odd, but fifteen years isn't too bad, depending on the
exposure and construction. Fences aren't forever, which will come to
quite a surprise when all of these vinyl abominations...

I agree that seems a little shortlived for CYPRESS under most
circumstances.

I also agree (what! we're 2 for 2???!!!) on the abominations...

I also have to say I've seen darn little oak exterior finish work, and
don't think it particularly good choice for screens, particularly if
they are to be removed frequently as they're going to be far heavier
than necessary which, depending on the geometry and the access, could
lead to higher likelihood of breaking windows, etc. from "woops!" I say
that having had to change them every spring/fall on grandparent's
two-story house for lo! those many years growing up...

White pine is really afaik the longtime most popular choice, at least
everywhere except the West Coast where it wasn't easily obtainable.

--

On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:29:57 -0500, dpb wrote:

I also have to say I've seen darn little oak exterior finish work

Check the old houses here in New England. I notice you say "oak"
without pointing out that red oak is a poor exterior wood, and white
is superior. Which oak do most home centers sell? The wrong one. How
many trim guys nowadays would even know the difference? G

I would imagine the preference for pine is usually cost.

and
don't think it particularly good choice for screens, particularly if
they are to be removed frequently as they're going to be far heavier
than necessary which

Very possibly, but that depends on the design. Some of the nicest
and most durable antique screens, storm doors, and exterior shutters
I've seen are white oak., as are some new ones locally installed in
very high-end (think casino bigwig) homes. Mahogany, too! G

My brother-in law has a large number of cold frames on his farm we
built from 60-80 year old white oak storm windows recovered from the
dump. The same farm is on "reclaimed" industrial land land that made
crating for Pratt & Whitney engine parts in the 60's and 70's, folding
in '73. On the back 40 were crates made back then. The crates were
never painted or stained. They were gray but still in solid shape,
with very little rot or insect damage. We actually used some of
them around the farm. In the same pile were badly decayed plywood
items and construction lumber.

White oak can most definitely be heavy in a beefy design which I'd
agree might be tough on a ladder. Personally, my favorite painted
outdoor trim nowadays is plastic. G


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** http://www.bburke.com/woodworking.html **
---------------------------------------------

In article .com,
wrote:

Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of? Does
anyone know its decay resistent properties.

It rots if you look at it sideways in any exposed use.

In article 240620071520100698%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderstone. ca, wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:

Would Poplar be a suitable choice to make storm windows out of? Does
anyone know its decay resistent properties.

It rots if you look at it sideways in any exposed use.

Well, sure, if it's exposed. Keep a good coat of paint on it, though, and it
lasts a long time.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.