Pine has an attractive rich color, ranging from yellow-gold to amber or red-brown. The color of the wood runs from white to green to black and unless you can select some boards of consistant color it won't stain very well. You’ll usually see pine used for rustic furniture, like that found in a mountain cabin, a beach house, or a farmhouse. Keep in mind that because of its broad grain and frequent knots, pine trim is usually meant to be painted, not stained. Trim is an important part of the finished look of your home. Remember to keep the trim of a space in scale with the size and shape of the room. Sanding and priming negate the small cost saving of using finger jointed pine versus popular. Poplar doesn’t dent as easily as pine does. The radiata pine, however, is significantly harder, with a rating of 710 lbf, and the Southern yellow pine (longleaf variety) is even better at a super-hard 870 lbf. That’s why we would recommend using poplar or another wood, rather than pine. As Jesse says clear straight pine is costly and hard to find. Keep in mind, as we mentioned before, that there are many varieties of pine. Sometimes you can obtain some of this beautiful, magnificent wood from older buildings that are being taken down or remodeled. And when we’re talking about the white pine and yellow pine most commonly used for furniture, they are also fairly softwoods. The primer that is used is junk and the finished texture of the boards are really poor. Popular is actually a hardwood which will hold up better than pine when it comes to to day to day wear and tear. Poplar also has a tighter grain structure than pine. So if you’re leaning towards making pine furniture, you’ll be shopping for yellow or white pine lumber. Aspiring DIY'er (hence the name "grasshopper" as I am looking to learn from all the masters on the FOG)- TS 55, OF 1400, MFT/3, VS600 Dovetail Jig, MFS700+ MFS2000 extension profiles, Kapex, Kapex UG set, T12 Li set(x2), CT22, Domino, Carvex, RO90, RO150, MFK700, CMS-VL, Qwas super pack & Cool Wife. Be aware that some kinds of pine will tend to splinter and crack when they are dry, while other types of pine, such as the Southern yellow pine, tend to have a lot of sap. If money is an issue, pick poplar and use it more sparingly. Dark Helmet.....Remember! There is really not much difference in the strength between pine and poplar. As you look for places to purchase your pine or poplar, consider where the seller is getting their lumber. The best way to avoid that ugly blotchiness is to pre-condition the wood. Another factor for the cost is whether or not that type of wood is native to your area. Poplar is a fairly soft, porous wood. The finer and more detailed the project, the harder and more expensive the wood you will need for it. If you are painting you might also want to consider some clear plywood For the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus on the two most common kinds, which are regular white pine and yellow pine. It's often used for rustic pieces, like farmhouse-style tables. Although pine is sturdy and heavy, it’s not as heavy as oak. The scale being used is the Janka scale, developed by Gabriel Janka. Trim also includes baseboards and crown molding. Popular is actually a hardwood which will hold up better than pine when it comes to to day to day wear and tear. Pine is cheaper than several other types of wood, including oak. So if you’re curious about comparative hardness, you first need to determine the type of pine you’re talking about. Poplar tends to be somewhat easier to work with since it’s lighter and has fewer knots and less sap. He also holds a bachelor's degree in English from Iowa University. In some cases, if you’re looking for a rarer type of pine, you may be out of luck. Curious about the tree that ranks highest of all the trees, not just the pines? Quote from: Grasshopper on December 03, 2015, 11:02 AM. Curious about the difference between various types of wood? Poplar is somewhat harder and more dent-resistant than pine. This serves as a final seal, securing the wood against spills, moisture, and damage. We’ll break it down for you. Well, it all depends on the type of pine you are talking about. Poplar vs. Pine: Trim Basswood: the principal wood used on many Japanese made instruments. Because good is dumb! Festool and its affiliates cannot be responsible for improper postings or your reliance on the website's material. Pine is a softwood however poplar is a soft hardwood. Some types of harder pine can make beautiful trim, include lovely crown molding. Poplar is a hardwood, which makes it an excellent material because it is so durable over time. Most of the pre primed pine is Raita pine from South America. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We use … Although Festool strives for accuracy in the website material, the website may contain inaccuracies. "The Code is not a ceiling to reach but a floor to work up from". Some experts recommend using a Minwax pre-stain conditioner and following that up with stain. Specializing in building and renovating homes, Thomas Luttrell has worked in homebuilding since 2002. I'll be buying around 400 linear feet of 1x stock (1x4's, 1x2's, and 1x8's). Are you new to doing your own woodworking projects? Trim is thinner than furniture and requires more machining to get it just right visually. The Caribbean Heart Pine is close to first place, at 1280 lbf. Poplar doesn’t dent as easily as pine does. If you’re set on having stained pine trim, keep in mind that its final look is going to be a bit blockier and more rustic. Window casings and door trim can look quite charming when they’re done with stained pine finished with shellac, as long as you’re okay with that cozy cabin look. As we have said, poplar machines better than pine. Festool makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the material on this website or about the results to be obtained from using the website.