Hi

"Al" skrev i en meddelelse
om...
Oak don't like it to dry

am I reading the correct implication that oak will tend to split when
dried out, but that softwood is likely to cope better and split less?

Still why do you bother,

partly because I want a challenge, partly because I want to work with
high quality materials and avoid resins (my day job is making
resins... I see enough of them and read enough MSDS' to put me off for
life), but I think mostly because there is something about a
"traditionally" constructed craft that gets me excited in a way that
composite boats don't. S&G definitely has it's place, and epoxy/wood
composite boats are excellent for light weight, ease of construction,
ease of maintenance, but _for_me_ they are not as interesting or
stimulating as clinker craft.

And a very small perverted part of me wants to do it just because
various authorities think it'll be far too hard for me ;-)

Life is for living!

Al

Sound you are not fanatic about it, and you shuldn't be. As with just a small
quantity epoxies, you have the chance to make those small repairs, that the
average person don't know is there. The Lapstrake method on the other hand,
leave you the oppotunity to perform a structure that is much more advanced than
most think, ------- but that the tailored planks will fit without thruout
resistance is somthing important to remember, as sure you can force a plank
edgevise , but you pay somhow if you are not keen about how things shuld be and
could be.
You are quite right about my warning about drying Oak, but as with all wood this
also is about knowing the material and knowing the time needed to make sure the
surface is not drying faster than the core, ----------- please let me give an
example.
Normaly wet wood just sawn, is still "secured" with a plank piece nailed to the
end of the plank. When you ask why you get two ansvers ; first is that the nails
will hold the plank from splitting , and that is silli , as when the plank dry
it get more narrow while the plank piece with the nails keep the same length and
by this fact, acturly help splitting the plank.
Second ansver is that the plank nailed to the end of the wood, prevent the
endwood piece to dry out to fast. But even this is true , then why not just do
it as it shuld be done , replace the nails and plank piece with a layer of thick
paint.
Guess you have all chances to succes , if you find some realy old books about
wooden boat building, but as you proberly know, it is better to trust your own
judgement.
A small quantity epoxy can save a perfect plank and I se nothing wrong, using a
few grams epoxy to do so. -------- that's how I se Epoxy, not as somthing that
is more than 50 pct. and where everything else shuld be depandant on that, but
as a perfect glue. Not somthing to cover your missing skills but somthing that
allow for perfect materials and skills.
P.C.
http://www.designcommunity.com/scrapbook/2806.html