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bgreen
Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: wooden paipo weight & wood selection |
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Hello,
I came across an old (probably 70 years or so) skirting board of what I think is Australian cedar under the house. For its length (about 10 feet x 5" x 1.5" thick) it is light - much lighter than a smaller pine floorboard also under the house. I was toying with whether I could make a workable paipo board from it.
My questions:
1. what would be a reasonable weight for a board about 5' x 1" thick?
2. If I wanted to add some balsa (partly because I am not sure whether the board would be light enough and I doubt I have enough wood) - would it be better to alternate the pieces of wood, put the harder wood on the rails or some other combination?
I could always throw the wood into the surf and see if it sinks but this this is not too convenient at present.
Any suggestions are welcomed,
Bob |
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PaipoJim Director of CTU
Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: Location: Oregon
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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Slice off a small piece and see if it floats in the kitchen sink. |
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bgreen
Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject: wooden paipo weight & wood selection |
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Jim,
Out of curiosity I tried slivers of 5 types of wood. The only failure, which floated for a little while was the hardwood chamferboard. If there is a major flood I now know that I can't count on the house floating.
The other wood that I took pieces from & that floated were:
1. an aged hardwood step tread
2. a new hardwood signpost
3. a pine floorboard
4. the piece of cedar skirting board
Bob |
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PaipoJim Director of CTU
Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: Location: Oregon
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Poobah Dolphin Glider
Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 696 Location: California, San Diego
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe glue a cork deck on top of the plank bellyboard. It could increase your bouyancy, and give you a softer surface for your elbows and chest. |
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bgreen
Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject: wooden paipo weight & wood selection |
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Jim,
The link to the specific gravity of wood was useful. After balsa, the next lightest woods are in the 300s which includes cedar.
Poobah,
I was thinking of oiling the board. I can't imagine this would work with cork. Would you seal cork with some synthetic finish like used on floor tiles?
Bob |
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Poobah Dolphin Glider
Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 696 Location: California, San Diego
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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I said maybe, because I haven't tried it myself. It's been on my list of things to do. Somewhere on the net, I once read that early paddleboards were made of solid cork scavenged from dock floats. I don't recall if they even bothered to seal them. Cork (bark) is a different structure than the woody part of the tree. Fluid can't flow (quickly) through the cork in a wine bottle, so I figure it would be fairly waterproof as a deck material. My only concern would be fungus and mold. If you use an oil finish meant for boat use, then it probably already contains a fungicide. I did a quick search on cork floor sealers, and saw one that was parrafin-oil based. I say stick with the products that are intended for exterior use. I think I'll give cork a try this weekend. It's been on my list long enough. |
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bgreen
Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:42 pm Post subject: wooden paipo weight & wood selection |
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Poobah,
Have you a board you intend to glue cork on the deck of, or are you starting from scratch? There is the also question of the best glue for such a job.
I look forward to hearing how it works out.
Bob |
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Poobah Dolphin Glider
Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 696 Location: California, San Diego
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: Re: wooden paipo weight & wood selection |
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bgreen wrote: | Poobah,
Have you a board you intend to glue cork on the deck of, or are you starting from scratch? There is the also question of the best glue for such a job.
I look forward to hearing how it works out.
Bob |
I want to do both. Right now the contact cement is curing on the first board. It took me a while to find a local supplier for the cork sheet. I think I'll start a new thread for cork boards. This here thread can return to the topic of wood selection, etc. |
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