: Everything I've worked off my place hase been creamy. I'll see some brown
: graining near branches, but that's about all. I think the color is a
: result of the minerals in the soil that the tree takes up as it grows. Any
: poplar I've let weather has turned gray quickley. In fact if I want to
: throw up a building without the oversite of the town I'll leave the wood
: out a bit. When the inspector see it, he thinks its always been there!
: This is wrong and not to be encouraged, of course.

: Poplar has a bad reputaion for rot. But I've found it's no worse than pine.
: But you can't let it sit on the ground or in the bole with the bark left
: on or it won't last. Of course neither will ash which has a good
: reputation for rot resistance. While it doesn't produce a great deal of
: heat I burn it in the spring and fall when ash and maple burn to hot for
: comfort. Split small it makes a great fire starter.

: Once it is spoilt the would takes on a very interesting "grain"
: pattern as the fungus' tendrils get into it and produce patterns of
: discoloration, Some people like to turn bowls from the spoilt wood due to
: this patterning. Perhaps that's what your coworker is thinking of. I have
: seen the pinks in this discoloration. A spoilt wood stripper with matched
: strips would be something!

We call that Spalting and it makes for some very interesting coloring. I don't know that it is deteriated enough to cause any structural weakness, but I've used spalted Pine in a few projects and it is gorgeous. One thing is does do, and it probably won't be a problem here, but the spalted wood will eat up some stain, and turn very dark. Looks great natural. I ran into some just recently when looking for the pine form my Walrus, but, passed on it for this application. Not without knowing the strength losses, if any, under this condition.

Rehd