cranker Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Has anyone ever tried Aspen for building cranks?I have been using the cedar from lowes but the last time I was in there I noticed the aspen which comes in 1/2'' thick strips and I really liked the feel of the wood but dont know anything about it.I dont know if its considered a hardwood or a softwood but I would love to know if anyone has tried it and how it worked.I have also considered changing to poplar.I like the way the cedar works but the smallest thickness it comes in is 1'' and I am wanting to build some 1/2'' flatsides,and both poplar and aspen comes in 1/2'' strips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Poplar=nightmare!!! Bubbles horribly when the clearcoat goes on. Use anything but poplar! Jed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpoRoller Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Cranker, do you happen to know if that cedar from Lowe's is kiln dried or not?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cranker Posted October 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 I am not sure if it is or not but I can tell you that the strips they have that come in 1''x2''x6or8' sections really carve and paint well.The way it sands I would think that its not kiln dried but really not sure.I always use kilz sealer/primer on it before painting and have not had any trouble at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpoRoller Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Thanks Cranker. I need some of that smaller stuff for a bait I am working on. I would rather save what little of the larger blocks I have left for my big bodied baits. I will give it a try.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overkill Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Aspen is a poplar wood. Although it is in the hardwood category of trees, the wood is soft. Poplar wood is a water logged wood, and because of there rapid growth rate it has little integrity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinner Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 I have worked with Aspen. It carves and sands well with little or no grain to contend with. I have not had any finishing problems with paint or clear coat. You do need to treat it like a hardwood. Buoyancy is completly different from cedar. If you use a model or design that works well with cedar and attach your hardware with no additional weighting, you may end up with a sinking bait. It is a nice wood to work with but has different charachteristics. Spinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoop10 Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Spo, I've got tons more of those eastern cedar blocks, if you like them. Should be around Thursday night if you want to call or come by. Also, I believe I was told the western cedar sold by Lowe's is kiln dried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpoRoller Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 I'll call you tonight Scoop. I have heard and been told that those 1x's sold at Lowes are not kiln dried. I have been looking for local sources of different woods, you know any?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 The 1"x6"x6' WRC I bought from Lowes was labled as kiln dried. The lure in my avatar was made from that board. You need to choose your wood carefully if you get it at Lowes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpoRoller Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Thanks Mallard. I have notice while browsing the wood that some pieces are a lot better than others. I also am not smart enough to read the labels! That is why my wife forbids me to grocery shop! If it matches the description in my mind of what I want then I buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesehead Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 There is nothing wrong with using wood that isn't kiln dried as a matter of fact some kiln dried woods may have cell structure problems due to not being properly dried. is too fast or not enough moisture being introduced during the drying process. the most important thing to look for is what most people don't look for. Moisture content! kiln dried wood can have a higher moisture content than air dried especially woods destined for the construction industry which is what most WRC that we use is. the best thing to do is keep you project wood in a dry location. wood is like a sponge it will readily take on or give off moisture and equalize itself to the surrounding climate. So buy your wood early and get the wood with the straightest grain available and let it sit for a few weeks if it's too wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskie magnet Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Aspen beavers like it but I don't think many bait makers do. It is a light wood sp gravity about .4 It is brittle, works fairly well but with more fuzz than most, does not hold screws as well as most, glues fairly well but does not hold paint as well as most. My favorite for most applications is Atlantic White Cedar. Eastern White Cedar would be second choice. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskie magnet Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 ttttt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
