Hi Richard,
Thanks for that clarification.
Please be assured that I am not taking a pop at you but more trying to establish some reliable facts in respect of the use of poplar in timber framed buildings.
Like you, I pride myself in being fairly good at identifying some of the more commonly used timbers by visual examination of grain patterns, colouration etc. but this is not allways easy to do especially where timbers have been painted or covered with tar or soot from open hall or chimney bay fires.
I have now identified 3 buildings in Oxfordshire where poplar is known to have been used however I am also quite conscious that for example Whitaker's cottage at the Weald & Downland Museum has had each timber sytematically and scientifically identified revealing a mixture of about 20 different timbers including walnut, apple, chestnut, oak, pine, etc., etc. so I well realise that the hands and eyes can quite easily be fooled.
I am not aware of a good quick non destructive or visual test for poplar other than that suggested by one of our more experienced conservation carpenters to hit it with a hammer and see if this makes a dent.
I have over the years made a library of test sample wood blocks that I use to make field comparisons but as you well know timber appearance along the grain can be quite different depending on the conversion method employed.
I am currently trying to source a branch or offcut from a black poplar tree and other poplar varieties so that I can make a test block for various poplar species variants.
Regards
Ken Hume
