Re: mast lumber?
Hi Paul,
If not too much trouble, I'd love to check out your bird's mouth
booms and see if I'm doing anything wrong so far with mine...
I'm in Hyannis
Roger
If not too much trouble, I'd love to check out your bird's mouth
booms and see if I'm doing anything wrong so far with mine...
I'm in Hyannis
Roger
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Lefebvre" <paul@w...> wrote:
> I used some poplar in one of my kayaks, just because I wanted some
yellow
> wood to contrast with the red cedar; later installed a through-
hull for an
> built-in pump and didn't seal the exposed edges well enough; it
quickly
> turned all black. If you make a mast of this and varnish it and
then ding it
> up (inevitable I think), it could get pretty ugly by the time you
get around
> to touching up. In contrast, my primary paddle made of spruce and
doug fir
> has been needing refinishing for many years, yet the doug fir
along the
> chewed-up edges has never changed color; spruce isn't bad either.
Also the
> poplar was substantially tougher to rip on the tablesaw, and is
also rather
> heavy compared to the other alternatives (except oak). I won't use
it again
> for anything boat-related.
>
> I've been birdsmouthing my Micro spars out of doug fir decking
stock. Nice,
> straight-grained stuff, a joy to work with. It IS more work to rip
up more
> strips, you make more sawdust out of your expensive wood; but the
spars go
> together remarkably easily once you're all set up, and are light.
It also
> makes your stuff look very sophisticated to the uninitiated! I get
a kick
> out of tossing my mizzen boom at friends when they visit my shop -
they
> brace themselves to catch a hefty chunk of wood, and it shocks
them to feel
> how light it is. I'm gonna be trailering my Micro so lightness is
a very
> good thing...
>
> Paul Lefebvre, getting back to work on the thawing shores of Cape
Cod...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: smithriverranger [mailto:jasonstancil@h...]
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 9:13 PM
> To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [bolger] mast lumber?
>
>
> Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micro
mast:
> Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
> Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
> Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
> Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
> I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll end
> up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a
birdsmouth.
> Thanks,
> Jason Stancil
For mast lumber have you considered cypress?
In this part of the US (TX) it's not too hard to find long clear
stock. It's desnity, strength and bending characteristics are very
similar to Sitka Spruce (it is only slightly heavier) and is MUCH
less expensive. It's also extremely rot resistant and will turn grey
if left unprotected from sun and water. Under spar varnish it has a
lovely golden yellowish color. I'm not sure why more people don't use
it for masts, unless availability is a problem in other parts of the
country.
......just my two cents worth.
William Allen
In this part of the US (TX) it's not too hard to find long clear
stock. It's desnity, strength and bending characteristics are very
similar to Sitka Spruce (it is only slightly heavier) and is MUCH
less expensive. It's also extremely rot resistant and will turn grey
if left unprotected from sun and water. Under spar varnish it has a
lovely golden yellowish color. I'm not sure why more people don't use
it for masts, unless availability is a problem in other parts of the
country.
......just my two cents worth.
William Allen
I used some poplar in one of my kayaks, just because I wanted some yellow
wood to contrast with the red cedar; later installed a through-hull for an
built-in pump and didn't seal the exposed edges well enough; it quickly
turned all black. If you make a mast of this and varnish it and then ding it
up (inevitable I think), it could get pretty ugly by the time you get around
to touching up. In contrast, my primary paddle made of spruce and doug fir
has been needing refinishing for many years, yet the doug fir along the
chewed-up edges has never changed color; spruce isn't bad either. Also the
poplar was substantially tougher to rip on the tablesaw, and is also rather
heavy compared to the other alternatives (except oak). I won't use it again
for anything boat-related.
I've been birdsmouthing my Micro spars out of doug fir decking stock. Nice,
straight-grained stuff, a joy to work with. It IS more work to rip up more
strips, you make more sawdust out of your expensive wood; but the spars go
together remarkably easily once you're all set up, and are light. It also
makes your stuff look very sophisticated to the uninitiated! I get a kick
out of tossing my mizzen boom at friends when they visit my shop - they
brace themselves to catch a hefty chunk of wood, and it shocks them to feel
how light it is. I'm gonna be trailering my Micro so lightness is a very
good thing...
Paul Lefebvre, getting back to work on the thawing shores of Cape Cod...
-----Original Message-----
From: smithriverranger [mailto:jasonstancil@...]
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 9:13 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bolger] mast lumber?
Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micro mast:
Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll end
up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a birdsmouth.
Thanks,
Jason Stancil
wood to contrast with the red cedar; later installed a through-hull for an
built-in pump and didn't seal the exposed edges well enough; it quickly
turned all black. If you make a mast of this and varnish it and then ding it
up (inevitable I think), it could get pretty ugly by the time you get around
to touching up. In contrast, my primary paddle made of spruce and doug fir
has been needing refinishing for many years, yet the doug fir along the
chewed-up edges has never changed color; spruce isn't bad either. Also the
poplar was substantially tougher to rip on the tablesaw, and is also rather
heavy compared to the other alternatives (except oak). I won't use it again
for anything boat-related.
I've been birdsmouthing my Micro spars out of doug fir decking stock. Nice,
straight-grained stuff, a joy to work with. It IS more work to rip up more
strips, you make more sawdust out of your expensive wood; but the spars go
together remarkably easily once you're all set up, and are light. It also
makes your stuff look very sophisticated to the uninitiated! I get a kick
out of tossing my mizzen boom at friends when they visit my shop - they
brace themselves to catch a hefty chunk of wood, and it shocks them to feel
how light it is. I'm gonna be trailering my Micro so lightness is a very
good thing...
Paul Lefebvre, getting back to work on the thawing shores of Cape Cod...
-----Original Message-----
From: smithriverranger [mailto:jasonstancil@...]
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 9:13 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bolger] mast lumber?
Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micro mast:
Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll end
up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a birdsmouth.
Thanks,
Jason Stancil
Some thoughts.
I was under the impression that if the wood was encapsulated in epoxy, then
rot was no longer a problem. Isn't "rot" a fungus that needs some magic
combination of fresh water and temperature? (Most of the old ships of the
line did their rotting while under construction. Salt stops were fitted
between frames to change the rain to salt water.)
On the dinghy I was able to use construction grade Sitka spruce (lots of
small knots, but decent grain) by "graving" the sections where the knot took
a diagonal pass thru an edge of my timber and by cutting out and scarfing
the sections where the knots were more structural. Not difficult at all
with wood flour filled epoxy.
The birds eye mast section I built was 9" long by 2" diameter with the
notches cut on a table saw. The process was instructive -- don't feather
the edges, use SLOW setting hardener, have lots of hose clamps ready, kinda
fun.
I figure on using D. Fir for my Chebacco spars with octagonal filler blocks
for the sections that shouldn't be that hollow. (I really hate the idea of
running the masthead wiring in a groove up the outside of the mast. The
surface is where the loads are.)
Roger
derbyrm@...
http://derbyrm.mystarband.net
I was under the impression that if the wood was encapsulated in epoxy, then
rot was no longer a problem. Isn't "rot" a fungus that needs some magic
combination of fresh water and temperature? (Most of the old ships of the
line did their rotting while under construction. Salt stops were fitted
between frames to change the rain to salt water.)
On the dinghy I was able to use construction grade Sitka spruce (lots of
small knots, but decent grain) by "graving" the sections where the knot took
a diagonal pass thru an edge of my timber and by cutting out and scarfing
the sections where the knots were more structural. Not difficult at all
with wood flour filled epoxy.
The birds eye mast section I built was 9" long by 2" diameter with the
notches cut on a table saw. The process was instructive -- don't feather
the edges, use SLOW setting hardener, have lots of hose clamps ready, kinda
fun.
I figure on using D. Fir for my Chebacco spars with octagonal filler blocks
for the sections that shouldn't be that hollow. (I really hate the idea of
running the masthead wiring in a groove up the outside of the mast. The
surface is where the loads are.)
Roger
derbyrm@...
http://derbyrm.mystarband.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Staehling" <staehpj1@...>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "smithriverranger" <jasonstancil@h...>
wrote:
> > Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micro mast:
> > Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
>
> Probably a very good way to go. I would use more of it if it were more
readily
> available here.
>
> > Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
>
> I was told that it rots if it is within a mile of the water, but I have
had good luck with
> the nice looking poplar at the local home depot. Not sure of the species.
It is strong
> but a bit brittle. It saws, sands, and glues well. I have had no problem
with breakage
> or rot. It does have a tendancy to splinter if you aren't careful. Also,
for applications
> that require much bending it may not be the best choice.
>
> > Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
>
> Never tried it. I was told it wasn't very good boat lumber. Supposedly
it rots and
> doesn't get along with epoxy. If that isn't true, I would like to know
because I have
> some nice looking red oak available locally.
>
> > Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
>
> The knots can be worked around with some scarfing, but why bother if you
have
> better lumber available unless cost is a major factor.
>
> > I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll end
> > up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a birdsmouth.
>
> I like the idea of birdsmouth masts, but haven't done one.
>
> Keep us posted on how things go.
>
> Pete
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "smithriverranger" <jasonstancil@h...> wrote:
available here.
the nice looking poplar at the local home depot. Not sure of the species. It is strong
but a bit brittle. It saws, sands, and glues well. I have had no problem with breakage
or rot. It does have a tendancy to splinter if you aren't careful. Also, for applications
that require much bending it may not be the best choice.
doesn't get along with epoxy. If that isn't true, I would like to know because I have
some nice looking red oak available locally.
better lumber available unless cost is a major factor.
Keep us posted on how things go.
Pete
> Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micro mast:Probably a very good way to go. I would use more of it if it were more readily
> Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
available here.
> Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real niceI was told that it rots if it is within a mile of the water, but I have had good luck with
the nice looking poplar at the local home depot. Not sure of the species. It is strong
but a bit brittle. It saws, sands, and glues well. I have had no problem with breakage
or rot. It does have a tendancy to splinter if you aren't careful. Also, for applications
that require much bending it may not be the best choice.
> Red Oak......heafty.......looks real niceNever tried it. I was told it wasn't very good boat lumber. Supposedly it rots and
doesn't get along with epoxy. If that isn't true, I would like to know because I have
some nice looking red oak available locally.
> Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knotsThe knots can be worked around with some scarfing, but why bother if you have
better lumber available unless cost is a major factor.
> I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll endI like the idea of birdsmouth masts, but haven't done one.
> up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a birdsmouth.
Keep us posted on how things go.
Pete
I know it's a lot more work but bird's mouth is THE way to go...
Lighter, solid, flexible and looks good too!
You'll be so pleased afterwards...
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "smithriverranger"
<jasonstancil@h...> wrote:
Lighter, solid, flexible and looks good too!
You'll be so pleased afterwards...
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "smithriverranger"
<jasonstancil@h...> wrote:
> Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micromast:
> Doug Fir.....it's ok lookingend
> Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
> Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
> Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
> I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll
> up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid abirdsmouth.
> Thanks,
> Jason Stancil
Here are my choices for halfway decent lumber to make my micro mast:
Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll end
up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a birdsmouth.
Thanks,
Jason Stancil
Doug Fir.....it's ok looking
Poplar (it looks like yellow)....... looks real nice
Red Oak......heafty.......looks real nice
Yellow Pine......not the greatest, some knots
I purchased a router and i've been playing around with it, I'll end
up making the mast a round hollow, box or heaven forbid a birdsmouth.
Thanks,
Jason Stancil