Aspen from lowes

[cgraham]

I have a top notch lumber yard in my area so I don't have to deal with the big box stores very often.  I was in lowes and saw there "aspen" 1x lumber. It seemed very straight and flat. Has anybody ever used it on doors in place of fir? I was wondering how it performs.  Thinking about using it for an exterior door project where price is an issue (usually prefer mahogany) . It will be painted

 

[JayStPeter]

You never know what you'll get at Lowes.  Wood will be beautiful one time, the next time it won't be dried right and will warp and twist like crazy.  1x is also rather expensive there.  But, if you can't joint/plane rough lumber ... maybe not.

 

[Paul G]

Aspen at Lowes? That's something I've never seen out here, oak and poplar, straight is a crapshoot lol

 

[cgraham]

My biggest expense on jobs is labor costs so if I thought I could save by not having to surface the lumber I was willing to give it a try. As soon as I posted I realized there is a reason I never by from the big box stores and that is the quality of the products. We have several Amish sawmills that air dry there oak and poplar with decent results,but i have to pay pretty good money for fir and mahogany unsurfaced shipped in. Have never made a door with white oak but we use it a lot for flooring.

 

[erock]

Aspen is available at Lowe's in my area.

I found it to be softer then poplar.  I used it too make some dog toys with walnut for the color contrast.  The wife loved it. 

I did use it for face frames on a pantry for the laundry room.  Painted it and it still looks fine.  It's been at lease 3 years since I build the unit.

Eric

 

[JayStPeter]

My biggest expense on jobs is labor costs so if I thought I could save by not having to surface the lumber I was willing to give it a try. As soon as I posted I realized there is a reason I never by from the big box stores and that is the quality of the products. We have several Amish sawmills that air dry there oak and poplar with decent results,but i have to pay pretty good money for fir and mahogany unsurfaced shipped in. Have never made a door with white oak but we use it a lot for flooring.

Well, seeing where you're from I suspect we use the same Lowes.  I've actually had reasonable luck with the Poplar there.  Everything else has been a crap shoot.  Might try the joint ?Dysons? near 235 and 5.  They had several species last time I checked, not cheap but surfaced IIRC.  The guy in LaPlata, Dennis, may offer surfaced wood now???  I think I saw a massive jointer and planer last time I was there.

I had one of the amish mills saw up a cherry tree for me once.  Wish I took pictures, OSHA nightmare.  Free spinning 48" or so circular saw blade that they push a cart with the log on it past.  The cart is on train tracks and is human powered.  The blade is driven by a Detroit Diesel, using leather belts tensioned by a guy pulling on a piece of wood that the belt slides over.  Roughest lumber I've ever dealt with.  Burned most of it.

 

[mouppe]

I like using aspen for drawer sides and bottoms. I believe aspen was quite commonly used for window frames so I see no reason why I wouldn't work for doors too.

 

[RonMiller]

I've used Aspen from Lowes often too for various reasons, but please realize it's a very soft wood. Indoor use is fine, but I can't imagine it would stand up to outdoor use. It will ding and dent at even the least provocation.

 

[peter halle]

One of the people I worked for running his business had a very varied career from harvesting the prime trees in the Pacific Northwest to running some operations for one of the major wood firms.  Aspen was what they used for interior blinds because it was soft and light weight.

Peter

 

[TomGadwa1]

I remember as a child coming home late from school one day. My father said to me "Where's your Aspen?"

 

[jacko9]

My biggest expense on jobs is labor costs so if I thought I could save by not having to surface the lumber I was willing to give it a try. As soon as I posted I realized there is a reason I never by from the big box stores and that is the quality of the products. We have several Amish sawmills that air dry there oak and poplar with decent results,but i have to pay pretty good money for fir and mahogany unsurfaced shipped in. Have never made a door with white oak but we use it a lot for flooring.

Well, seeing where you're from I suspect we use the same Lowes.  I've actually had reasonable luck with the Poplar there.  Everything else has been a crap shoot.  Might try the joint ?Dysons? near 235 and 5.  They had several species last time I checked, not cheap but surfaced IIRC.  The guy in LaPlata, Dennis, may offer surfaced wood now???  I think I saw a massive jointer and planer last time I was there.

I had one of the amish mills saw up a cherry tree for me once.  Wish I took pictures, OSHA nightmare.  Free spinning 48" or so circular saw blade that they push a cart with the log on it past.  The cart is on train tracks and is human powered.  The blade is driven by a Detroit Diesel, using leather belts tensioned by a guy pulling on a piece of wood that the belt slides over.  Roughest lumber I've ever dealt with.  Burned most of it.

I've purchased Poplar a Lowes but it is never straight.  I use it for small run drawer sides where I can cut the pieces and then run them over my Jointer and plane them flat to get a 5/8" or 1/2" side.

Big box store and straight lumber should not be used in the same sentence [wink]

Jack

 

[JayStPeter]

I've purchased Poplar a Lowes but it is never straight.  I use it for small run drawer sides where I can cut the pieces and then run them over my Jointer and plane them flat to get a 5/8" or 1/2" side.

Big box store and straight lumber should not be used in the same sentence [wink]

Jack

Personally, I don't think there are many places that sell wood that is straight enough to make doors.  I think that requires a jointer/planer really.  I'm just saying that the Lowes poplar doesn't move again once I get it flat/square.  Most of the Lowes wood goes crazy every time you look at it funny.  Makes it difficult, at best, to use for anything requiring stability and precision.  The poplar is usable after a few quick passes through the surfacing devices.

 

[rrmccabe]

I have to buy three times as much lumber from box store. What goes crazy when I rip it goes in rack for small stuff.  I need to start building toys!

 

[farms100]

I have to buy three times as much lumber from box store. What goes crazy when I rip it goes in rack for small stuff.  I need to start building toys!

invest in a jointer and planer...