Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering		Scientific Name Populus deltoides Trade Name Eastern Cottonwood Family Name Salicaeae Common Names Carolina poplar, Cottonwood, Deltoides-populier, Eastern cottonwood, Eastern poplar, Necklace poplar, Poplar, Southern cottonwood, Whitewood Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Baskets, Bearings & bushings, Beehives, Boxes and crates, Brooders, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Jewelry box, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Matches, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling, Particleboard, Piano keys, Pianos , Plain veneer, Plywood, Posts, Poultry coops, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Widespread, abundant, and globally secure Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview The natural growth range of Eastern cottonwood includes Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan i Canada. In the United States it occurs in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Iowa, and Illinois. It is found growing in pure stands, or usually with willows on the border of streams and in wet soils in valleys Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Purple White to cream Greenish to greyish Pale brown Grayish-white Brown Brown - light grayish Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown White to yellow Whitish Sapwood blends into heartwood Same as heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Interlocked Other (figure) Straight Other figure Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Fine Fine Uniform Medium to coarse Eastern cottonwood is an attractive choice for boxes and crates because its appearance makes it highly suitable for stenciling and printing. Luster Dull Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Moderately durable Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Needs chemical protection in high decay conditions Weathering Excellent Odor Has an odor Seasoned wood has no odor or taste No distinctive taste Green wood has disagreeable smell Silica Content Siliceous Kiln Schedules T6 - C4 (8/4) T8 - D5 (4/4 T8-F4 (8/4) T10-F5 (4/4) Wet streaks. Wet streaks. Drying Defects Checking Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Severe collapse and honeycomb Expect severe degrade from water pockets. Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Easy Difficult Figure Occurrence is variable Control drying prevents severe warping Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Product Sources Eastern cottonwood is available in adequate quantities Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy Average number of bored pieces out of one hundred reported to produce good to excellent holes = 70 Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Excellent gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor mortising properties An average of 52% yield excellent results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very poor (an average of 3% yield good results) Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Nails hold poorly Holds nails well Holds satisfactorily Excellent nailing properties An average of 82% are free from splits Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Planes well, to a good finish On average of 21 pieces out a hundred yield excellent results Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Moderately resistant It is usually treated with preservatives and used for poles and posts. Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very difficult to sand 19 of 100 yield excellent results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Screws hold poorly Screwing yields satisfactory results Screwing yields good results Good screwing properties 78 of 100 are free from splits Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Fairly good response (70% yield excellent results) Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for peeling Moderately easy to veneer Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Steam Bending Fair/moderate (,50% of pieces are unbroken during steam bending) Painting Satisfactory results Good results Excellent results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Work to Maximum Load = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Weight = moderate Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Low resistance to denting and marring Hardness (side grain) = soft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4591 8273 psi Crushing Strength 196 372 psi Density 26 lbs/ft3 Hardness 377 lbs Impact Strength 21 21 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2195 4460 psi Shearing Strength 972 psi Static Bending 1436 3146 psi Stiffness 1024 1299 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 6 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.28 0.44 Weight 26 22 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 322 581 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 13 26 kg/cm2 Density 416 kg/m3 Hardness 171 kg Impact Strength 53 53 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 154 313 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 68 kg/cm2 Static Bending 100 221 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 91 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.28 0.44 Weight 416 352 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Kennedy, H.E.,1985,American Woods - Cottonwood,USDA, Forest Service American Woods, FS-231 Kline, M. 1986. Populus deltoides - Eastern cottonwood. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 288. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.