I want to buy a small Cottonwood board.  I'm looking for something 3/8
- 1/2" thick, and I need a board something like 6" x 18".  The exact
size doesn't matter much; I'll cut the board into several smaller
pieces.

I went to a local woodworker's supply store which stocks MANY
different types of wood.  The man there told me that Cottonwood was
not harvested commercially except for paper pulp and that I would not
be likely to find anyone selling cottonwood boards.

Cottonwood trees, while very common in America, are not very abundant
in my area (and, besides, even if I found one, I wouldn't want to chop
up somebody else's tree).  Cottonwood is widely regarded as an ideal
material for use in firestarting with the bow & drill method, which is
something I would like to learn and teach to some Scouts.

Can anyone provide a URL or other contact information for a supplier
of small cottonwood boards?

Thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by davidfilmer-ga on 20 Dec 2002 17:28 PST

The specific species of Cottonwood doesn't matter to me, since I have
no idea what specific species may be better suited to my purpose.

Hi there

I'm glad you decided to come here instead of listening to your friend
at the woodworker's supply.

It would seem that cottonwood is an important commercial timber tree
in some parts of the country.  "For framing, flooring and partitions
in barns the cottonwood is superior in many ways to the pine and fir
lumber that is on the market." - From Kansas Forest Service -
http://www.kansasforests.org/Programs/Community_Forestry/arbor_day/cottonwoodhistory2.htm

The following companies have cottonwood listed as available stock:

Black Forest Wood Company Ltd.   Contact:  Terry Golbeck & Brad Thomas
  Address:  Bay 7, 603-77th Ave. S.E.,   Calgary, AB T2H 2B9   Phone: 
(403) 255-6044    Phone:  1-877-686-6061   Fax:  (403) 255-6502  
E-Mail:  info@blackforestwood.com   Web Address: 
http://www.blackforestwood.com

MacBeath Hardwood Company   Contact:  Rick McDaniels   Address:  930
Ashby Ave.   Berkeley, CA 94710-2886   Phone:  (800) 479-9907   
Phone:  (510) 843 4390   Fax:  (510) 843-9378   E-Mail: 
berkeley@macbeath.com   Web Address:  http://www.macbeath.com/

MacBeath Hardwood Company   Contact:  Vince Cortese   Address:  7653
Telegraph Rd.   Montebello, CA 90640-6517   Phone:  (800) 325-2170   
Phone:  (323) 723 3301   Fax:  (323) 888-1291   E-Mail: 
montebello@macbeath.com   Web Address:  http://www.macbeath.com

Paxton Woodcrafters' Store - Denver   Contact:  Jack Egan   Address: 
4837 Jackson Street,  Denver, CO 80216   Phone:  800-332-1331   
Phone:  303-399-6047   Fax:  303-321-4766   Web Address: 
http://www.paxtonwood.com

Davee's Hardwood Lumber   Contact:  Bryan Davee   Address:  311
Culpepper Road   Perry, GA 31069   Phone:  478-987-9747    Phone: 
478-987-1231 after 5:00   E-Mail:  Use the phone for now   Web
Address:  http://www.homestead.com/daveeshardwood

You will find many more on the page I took the above from and from all
parts of the country:
http://www.wdfindr.com/wdf/search.phtml?keywords=Cottonwood - if the
link takes you to the home page rather than the search result page,
just type in 'cottonwood.' - From "Woodfinder."

It seems that "minimum purchase" requirements vary considerably from
company to company but if you tell them what you are going to use it
for, who knows how flexible they may become?

You will also find cottonwood marketed as White Poplar.

Search - Google
Terms - cottonwood, cottonwood timber +and lumber

If I may clarify anything before you rate the answer, please ask.

Cheers
digsalot

Certinally no clarification is needed for this exceptional and VERY
prompt response, and I have reflected my satisfaction in both rating
and gratuity.

Thank you - since you mentioned a scout troop in your question, there
is something else about cottonwood you might like.  Your scouts may
have a woodworking project coming up sometime and if you would like to
give a luxury finish to the wood without too much cost, cottonwood can
be stained and finished to look like cherry wood or walnut and come so
close, only an expert can tell the difference.
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Use_and_finishing_tips_Cottonwood.html
- The website is "Woodweb."