A year-old post from a poplar and gum veneer supplier. This is rotary cut though, so you don't get to have fun bookmatching grain patterns.
http://www.sticktrade.com/board/?topic=topic5&msg=275
Come to think of it, Gum might make good skins too... not sure but possibly lighter than poplar. Wild patterns of red/black streaks on a tan background.
But, you're right - I hadn't thought about the fact that poplar veneer wouldn't be too, um, popular... I also don't know if commercial veneer for furniture might be too thin for wing skins - I think they're cutting it some strange thickness like 1/43" these days... I was just commenting on the problem with pine.
From: "Ed Berris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Andy Page" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [RCSE] Obecchi? Long.
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 18:20:13 -0600
Andy, I've tried to secure poplar veneer but I have been told that the wood
is so inexpensive that it is not considered worthy of making veneer from it.
Do you know of a source for poplar veneer?
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Page" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: [RCSE] Obecchi? Long.
> Softwood veneer as a wing skin would be difficult to sand smoothly without
> creating waviness, due to the large density difference between the
> early-wood and late-wood, the characteristic light and dark rings.
Vertical
> grain veneer would minimize this effect, if you could find very tight
grain
> (small growth rings, such as with old-growth) - but then you'd have a poor
> skin because it would split easily.
>
> Obeche, Poplar, and many other hardwoods do not have this effect. They
are
> also closed-grain, meaning there are no open pores to fill, such as with
> oak, ash, etc.
>
> Poplar is lightweight, easy to find, and easy to work. In my opinion,
it's
> also an underestimated cabinet wood - you sometimes find very nice
> greenish/purplish streaks in poplar. Good stuff.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: "C. Barker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Subject: Re: [RCSE] Obecchi? Long.
> >Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2002 22:28:17 -0800
> >
> >Monkey King wrote:
> >
> > > Does this imply that you can <use> plain ol' pine veneer instead of
> >Obeche?
> > > Or does pine not become veneer as easily, or what?
> > >
> > > -J
> >
> >The two woods are pretty much the same average weight. Obeche,though, is
> >a relatively knot free wood. Pine has more knots. Pine can be sliced as
> >a veneer. If you could find a clear enough piece I'm sure that it would
> >work just fine for sheeting wings.
> >The book I used is called "Identifying Wood" by Aidan Walker. It isn't a
> >very technical book but it does have a rating system. Obeche is not
> >rated very highly in any of these classifications: (1 to 10)
> >
> > Obeche Northern Pine Sitka Spruce
> >Impact bending or toughness: 2 4
> >6
> >Stiffness: 2 4 6
> >Bending strength: 4 5 5
> >Crushing strength: 3 5 6
> >Weight - lbs. / ft^3 24 24 - 26 27
> >
> >Balsa is 2,2,2,2 respectively and 5 - 16 lbs/ft.^3
> >
> >I don't think that it is the strength of the veneers that gives a wing
> >it's strength. It is the tension of the bottom veneer and the
> >compression of the top veneer held apart by the foam core that does.
> >I think that Obeche is used because of its low weight and availability
> >and it is pretty when finished with a clear coat.
> >I know that I am opening myself to criticism. I am not an engineer. My
> >experience is practical.
> >If there are any experts out there (Dr. Mark Drella help!!) that care to
> >comment please do.
> >
> >Chris
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>
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