Replies

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Mar 21, 2007 04:14pm | #1

   Poplar is always a good secondary wood.

   Frosty

2. 
   Samson | Mar 21, 2007 07:23pm | #2

   Poplar or maple are good bets.  Poplar is much more forgiving to dovetail by hand as it is significantly softer than maple, though harder than clear pine.

3. 
   jeanlou | Mar 22, 2007 04:41am | #3

   bmyyou

   Cherry is not all that expensive. Why not use cherry all around? Poplar, soft maple, butternut, yellow pine (because it is harder than most pine, though it is still pretty soft). Risking someone throwing an iron at me, why not use baltic birch plywood? You can finish the edge with solid maple or birch if you want, or not. It is a material that works very well when dovetailing.  JL