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Started By
Message
Anybody here know much about catalpa lumber?
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:12 am
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:12 am
Is it heavy? Is it light?
How does it hold up?
How does it hold up?
9
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:14 am to auggie
quote:it’s hard as woodpecker lips
catalpa lumber
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:14 am to auggie
It’s 350% better than others.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:16 am to auggie
The Good About Catalpa Wood
Rot Resistance
Catalpa heartwood has natural resistance to decay.
Fence posts made from catalpa are known to last a long time in the ground — sometimes decades.
Lightweight and Easy to Work
The wood is soft and relatively light, making it easy to cut, carve, or shape.
Tools don’t dull quickly, and hand carving is pleasant.
Distinct Appearance
Catalpa has a coarse, straight grain and a light to medium brown color.
Some woodworkers find it visually interesting, with a rustic look.
Low Shrinkage
It seasons (dries) without much warping or cracking compared to some other woods.
?? The Bad About Catalpa Wood
Softness / Weakness
It’s relatively soft and not very strong structurally.
Not suitable for load-bearing uses, fine cabinetry, or flooring.
Limited Commercial Use
Because it’s not widely harvested or standardized, you won’t find it at lumberyards.
That also means it’s not well-documented for large-scale applications.
Coarse Grain and Porous Texture
The grain can be uneven, with open pores, making it harder to get a smooth, polished finish.
It can look “rustic” but not refined if you want a sleek furniture surface.
Variable Quality
Catalpa trees grow fast and often irregularly, so boards can be knotty and inconsistent.
Rot Resistance
Catalpa heartwood has natural resistance to decay.
Fence posts made from catalpa are known to last a long time in the ground — sometimes decades.
Lightweight and Easy to Work
The wood is soft and relatively light, making it easy to cut, carve, or shape.
Tools don’t dull quickly, and hand carving is pleasant.
Distinct Appearance
Catalpa has a coarse, straight grain and a light to medium brown color.
Some woodworkers find it visually interesting, with a rustic look.
Low Shrinkage
It seasons (dries) without much warping or cracking compared to some other woods.
?? The Bad About Catalpa Wood
Softness / Weakness
It’s relatively soft and not very strong structurally.
Not suitable for load-bearing uses, fine cabinetry, or flooring.
Limited Commercial Use
Because it’s not widely harvested or standardized, you won’t find it at lumberyards.
That also means it’s not well-documented for large-scale applications.
Coarse Grain and Porous Texture
The grain can be uneven, with open pores, making it harder to get a smooth, polished finish.
It can look “rustic” but not refined if you want a sleek furniture surface.
Variable Quality
Catalpa trees grow fast and often irregularly, so boards can be knotty and inconsistent.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:16 am to White Bear
quote:
it’s hard as woodpecker lips
quote:
by White Bear
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:17 am to White Bear
quote:
it’s hard as woodpecker lips
That's pretty tough. You never see a woodpecker buying chapstick.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:17 am to chinhoyang
If these are the trees with the worms, I’ve never thought they would look like they would make good lumber for building, etc.
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 11:28 am
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:19 am to Allthatfades
The trees are usually scraggly looking. Surprised you could get any good cuts, or volume out of one tree
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:30 am to HeadedToTheWoods
quote:
The trees are usually scraggly looking.
That's because most in the south are topped to keep a lower canopy for harvesting worms for fishing.
quote:
Surprised you could get any good cuts, or volume out of one tree
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I love catalpa tree threads!
Posted on 9/23/25 at 11:34 am to Clyde Tipton
You need to do something about that huge blackhead on your face. 
I just saw a catalpa telecaster body that looked really cool.
I just saw a catalpa telecaster body that looked really cool.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:00 pm to auggie
The catalpa groupies are something else. I have to keep a low profile.
Admittedly though, I never heard about their lumber or the quality thereof. I'm only into them for the worms.
Admittedly though, I never heard about their lumber or the quality thereof. I'm only into them for the worms.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:03 pm to auggie
Bears Beets Battlestar Galatica
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:04 pm to auggie
I know catalpa worms are laid by moths then when the leaves are ripe, then they eat every leaf, crap all over the place then turn into moths.
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:11 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
The catalpa groupies are something else. I have to keep a low profile.
You freeze them in corn meal in ziplocks? That's the way my dad always did them.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:13 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
The catalpa groupies are something else. I have to keep a low
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:17 pm to REB BEER
Can you put them on a drop shot rig?
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:22 pm to aTmTexas Dillo
sweet gum trees make a strong board
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:36 pm to REB BEER
quote:
quote:
The catalpa groupies are something else. I have to keep a low profile.
You freeze them in corn meal in ziplocks? That's the way my dad always did them.
Was he a rockstar or what?
Posted on 9/23/25 at 12:59 pm to aTmTexas Dillo
quote:
Can you put them on a drop shot rig?
I guess you can put them on anything. They have very tough skin.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 1:29 pm to REB BEER
quote:
You freeze them in corn meal in ziplocks? That's the way my dad always did them.
I do. This isn't my pic, but how it's done.
I've noticed some guys are vacuum sealing them these days with success. They get crazy and "pickle" them for lack of a better word and even dye them pink or extra chartreuse.
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