Tight-grained species options?

[Joe Kieve]

If you can find pieces large enough for your project, dogwood will fit your requirements; domestic, tight-grained.

[Brian Tymchak]

Alder is often used in cabinets as a lower cost substitute for cherry. I have no idea how it turns or if it is availble in turning blanks.

[Reed Gray]

Alder is a great imitator. Around here, it is more expensive than poplar even though it is the native, and poplar is not. Before MDF came around, poplar was the go to paint grade trim for houses.

robo hippy

[John K Jordan]

If you can find pieces large enough for your project, dogwood will fit your requirements; domestic, tight-grained.

I have on occasion found big dogwood but most is small diameter, 6-8 inches. The largest came from yard trees. Second largest from the edges of fields. In the woods they are usually skinny. I suspect it is the amount of light the tree gets and the competition for moisture and nutrients.

A neighbor gave me one big enough to cut a 12" wide board from the center. That was highly unusual, at least around here. I think I mentioned earlier that dogwood is one of my favorite woods for turning. I have a bunch drying, some since 2006.

JKJ

[Don Orr]

Birch ?????