tight grain or wide grain block

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Topspin.D
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by Topspin.D »

Good information. I personally don't worry too much about the grain spacing. I do look for the lightest block to start with and look at the grain orientation.

I go for blocks that are as close to quartersawn as possible (this the most dimensionally stable orientation).

As far as weighing kits... I take my scale to the scout shop (or use the one there) and weigh all the kits before I buy them. I've even gone as far as asking them to pull some more out of the back when I didn't find enough "acceptable" kits on the shelf. :paperbag: ;)
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FatSebastian
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by FatSebastian »

Topspin.D wrote:I go for blocks that are as close to quartersawn as possible
Sound good to me (although, a scale won't reveal anything about that, will it?)
Topspin.D wrote:As far as weighing kits... I've even gone as far as asking them to pull some more out of the back when I didn't find enough "acceptable" kits on the shelf.
Somebody else must of gotten there first with the same idea. :roll:
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davet
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by davet »

Thanks guys. I've got a sheet of the 1/64" plywood to skin our thin car with. Bending it one way is easy, the other way is stronger, stiffer. Which direction do I lay it on the thin car to add strength?
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sporty
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by sporty »

Davey, mostly done, to add strength with thin cars hollowed out as well. See my balsa how to.
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Vitamin K
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by Vitamin K »

I'd put the stiff direction going the length of the car, since I'd imagine that would be the more likely flex direction.
davet wrote:Thanks guys. I've got a sheet of the 1/64" plywood to skin our thin car with. Bending it one way is easy, the other way is stronger, stiffer. Which direction do I lay it on the thin car to add strength?
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davet
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by davet »

sporty wrote:Davey, mostly done, to add strength with thin cars hollowed out as well. See my balsa how to.
How do I find it?
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Vitamin K
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by Vitamin K »

davet wrote:
sporty wrote:Davey, mostly done, to add strength with thin cars hollowed out as well. See my balsa how to.
How do I find it?
Allow me to stand in for FatSebastian...
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davet
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Re: tight grain or wide grain block

Post by davet »

Thanks for the link.
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