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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.

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