Toolchest wood poplar or birch

[Tony Wilkins]

If you’ve read the threads I’ve started lately I’ve been working on a Dutch tool chest. I gave up on the knotty, pringle shaped wood (if you can call it that) I got from the borg.

Long ago, I started on one made of birch. I got it cheaply at the local lumberyard but it’s pretty nice stuff. Part of the reason I stopped is that it’s 15/16” and heavy. Before I stopped I cut the sides for a large one (including the angles) and a 140 rabbet and dovetails on one side.

I have some 3/4” poplar I have left over (was meant for a second ADB book case). It should be enough. It would certainly be lighter but part of me wonders if the weight would be enough different to abandon the work on the birch version?

Thoughts?

[Jim Koepke]

It would certainly be lighter but part of me wonders if the weight would be enough different to abandon the work on the birch version?

How often will you have to pick it up to move it?

Another option would be to repurpose the birch in to something else if weight is a problem.

jtk

[Tony Wilkins]

How often will you have to pick it up to move it?

Another option would be to repurpose the birch in to something else if weight is a problem.

jtk

Birch will definitely be used for something. Right now I’m in analysis paralysis.

[Andrew Seemann]

Not sure how far you are into it, but birch can be a nightmare to plane if the grain is wavy. It also can be quite unstable in usage. If the tool chest was going to be painted, I'd say go with poplar. Birch is definitely prettier; note that clear finishes are easier use as it is prone to blotching when stained. Poplar is much easier to work, especially with hand tools, and takes paint well. Oh, and it is lighter.

Also bear in mind that poplar means a lot of different things. I tend to think of it as a wood like aspen, sometimes is is tulip poplar ("yellow poplar"), and sometimes it is that gad-awful green stuff that is supposedly true poplar.

This probably isn't helping your analysis paralysis, so I'd say paint = poplar, clear finish = birch, if you want to stain it, find some oak.

[William Fretwell]

Tool chests, whatever their country of origin don’t get moved much. They are simply too heavy. A wonderful set of drawers saves your back and holds more is a useful way, the security is less however.
My motivation for a chest was to be impossible for one man to move easily and very lockable, so security was more important than saving my back bending over. This was for a remote shop from my residence. For home use I would not build a chest at all!
The wood, open tool boxes however are very useful. The angled sides give great access to tools, no ‘scrunching’ like tool bags. Any light wood will do.

[Laurent Marshall]

Just depends on how often you'll be moving it. I made my small Dutch chest out of 3/4 pine, and I can pick it up full of tools. However, I probably won't ever need to pick it up often. Right now it sits near my bench and does its job keeping dust and rust off my tools, I'm happy with it and really don't mind working out of a tool chest.

[Tony Wilkins]

Decision made: poplar. Started planing the side board yesterday.

[Jake Rothermel]

I must be one of the only woodworkers/craftsmen around that actually likes poplar for my projects - yes, even the green stuff. Maybe that's after a lifetime of "settling" for it after every other hardwood was out of my price range... It is a joy to work with hand tools; especially for a still-a-beginner like me.

I do think it's pretty, in its own right, though....

-jake

[Ted Phillips]

My Dutch tool chest was constructed of pine because I could get the wide planks I needed for a good price from my local yard. However, I ended up bolting my chest down to a small work table (like one you would use for a tabletop drill press or bandsaw). It now sits at the same height as my main bench, which is convenient. I also put lockable casters on the bottom so I could wheel it around the shop. I guess I shouldn't have spent so much on the nice forged iron handles on the sides... :rolleyes:

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[lowell holmes]

I have a thickness planer I use when i need various thicknesses. It is a Dewalt 734. It is an excellent tool.

[andy bessette]

Use the harder wood.

[Andrew Seemann]

I must be one of the only woodworkers/craftsmen around that actually likes poplar for my projects - yes, even the green stuff. Maybe that's after a lifetime of "settling" for it after every other hardwood was out of my price range... It is a joy to work with hand tools; especially for a still-a-beginner like me.

I do think it's pretty, in its own right, though....

-jake
Poplar is an outstanding wood for many applications, especially ones involving stability and economy, which is why it is used so much as a secondary wood and for painted furniture. It has good acoustic resonance and was/is used for musical instruments like harpsichords.

It works nicely with hand tools, which is why it was popular in days of yore. It also takes paint well, better than a lot of other hardwoods. No disgrace in using it at all. The only reason I don't use it more is that aspen, soft maple, white pine, and basswood are even cheaper in my neck of the woods.

And if you can make the green color work for you, go for it:)

[Chris Hachet]

I must be one of the only woodworkers/craftsmen around that actually likes poplar for my projects - yes, even the green stuff. Maybe that's after a lifetime of "settling" for it after every other hardwood was out of my price range... It is a joy to work with hand tools; especially for a still-a-beginner like me.

I do think it's pretty, in its own right, though....

-jake

With an natural oil finish it can do just fine, and Poplar takes paint well.

I would vote for poplar as it is a little bit more stable than Birch, and more hand tool friendly.

[Steve Kaminska]

Decision made: poplar. Started planing the side board yesterday.


Good choice. I don't have much experience with Birch, but so far, I like working with it. Poplar, on the other hand, I have used for many projects, and prefer it for anything that doesn't have to have a beautiful finish. It works easily (for me) and the price is right!