FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Interior door lumber

trichards | Posted in General Discussion on June 18, 2006 06:27am

I’m considering building some doors for an arts & crafts bungalow I’m renovating. I want to match the existing doors, which are painted, but I really don’t want to use the vertical-grain Douglas Fir which I’ve used before. It would be a crime to paint it. Is there something else I could use that would be neither painful to paint nor as expensive as V-G fir, yet stable?

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. User avater
    Huck | Jun 18, 2006 06:30pm | #1

    My cabinet guy uses poplar on his paint-grade projects.  Might be worth checking into.

    "he...never charged nothing for his preaching, and it was worth it, too" - Mark Twain

  2. Shep | Jun 18, 2006 07:34pm | #2

     I remember seeing somewhere about using MDF to make mortice & tenon, raised panel doors.

    It makes sense- it's very stable, paints well, comes in different thicknesses, and is fairly inexpensive.

  3. Danusan11 | Jun 18, 2006 09:32pm | #3

    Another vote for poplar

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 18, 2006 09:47pm | #4

      yet another vote for Populus________

      Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

  4. User avater
    Ricks503 | Jun 18, 2006 10:39pm | #5

    Poplar or maybe hemlock?

    1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
  5. FNbenthayer | Jun 19, 2006 02:00am | #6

    Poplar/MDO

     

     

     

     

    The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
    - Fyodor Dostoyevski

  6. Piffin | Jun 19, 2006 03:47am | #7

    count mine poplar

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  7. andy_engel | Jun 19, 2006 04:51am | #8

    The only objection to poplar is that it's not as stable as cvg fir. You'll get far more seasonal movement from it, which might make the fir worth the money. I've got an exteriror custom door on the horizon, which will be painted. It's going to be cvg fir.

    Andy

    "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein

    "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

    1. trichards | Jun 19, 2006 07:45am | #10

      Yes, stability is a concern. Having finished previous fir doors with varnish I don't know if I can bring myself to use paint. And I want to keep the doors consistent. I guess I could discard the existing doors and build all new with CVG fir....

  8. DougU | Jun 19, 2006 04:53am | #9

    Poplar with MDO or MDF panels.

  9. User avater
    trout | Jun 19, 2006 08:54am | #11

    In random lengths/widths ordinary oak is relatively inexpensive, available everywhere, comes in various thicknesses, easy to work with, hard enough for edges to hold up well over time, provides a solid feel to the end product, and with a quick filling of the pores it paints well.  My favorite paint-grade wood for interior items that typically get dented and abused over time.

    Why not use a non-1/4 sawn cut of doug fir?  At least in the western states, it's not uncommon to get "recycled" tight grained, old growth doug fir posts with very low moisture content for cheap.  I've used this stuff for all sorts of paint-grade items from face frames, balastrades, door jambs, table legs, etc. 

    Last year we threw away close to 200 board feet of fine old growth fir taken from a 100 year old house during a remodel simply because none of the carpenters had enough indoor storage to keep it dry.  Until the girlfriend nixed the practice, stuff like that would get pressure washed, planed enough to get rid of the black crud, cut into 7' lengths and stacked under the bed or behind the couch for safe keeping.

    Having said that, the current price of clear, but ordinary, old growth doug fir can be near red oak from some sources.  I don't care for the wide rings on most new doug fir since the soft new wood rings telegraph through paint if sanded hardly at all, splinters more easily, has more irregular movement with moisture, and just seems harder to work with than the tight grained stuff from larger trees.

    However, if you have a few months of indoor storage to properly dry the stuff before use, I wouldn't think twice about ordering up some doug fir structural select framing lumber in the wider widths.   The wide boards come from bigger trees and can have excellent grain width and orientation, albeit not nearly as good as old growth, and very few knots to contend with.  About half our latest 2x10 framing order of this stuff had such good grain that it was painful to not cull it out for finish use later instead of sistering old floor joists with it.

    It's hard to get excited about poplar, or any of the low-end hardwoods that are actually softer than doug fir, even if they are relatively inexpensive and easy to work with.

    Have fun building those doors.

     

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

A Practical Perfect Wall

Getting the details right for a wall assembly with the control layers to the exterior and lots of drying potential.

Featured Video

How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post Corners

Use these tips to keep cables tight and straight for a professional-looking deck-railing job.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 695: Saving Bricks, Cut-and-Cobble Insulation, and Waterproofing Foundations
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Waterproofing Below-Grade Foundation Walls
  • Midcentury Home for a Modern Family
  • The New Old Colonial

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 333 - August/September 2025
    • A Practical Perfect Wall
    • Landscape Lighting Essentials
    • Repairing a Modern Window Sash
  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data