Block grain patterns and weights

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FatSebastian
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Block grain patterns and weights

Post by FatSebastian »

Image

The above image is a sample of 48 blocks from a case of BSA #17006 kits. The slots are on the bottom of each block in the picture (the edge farthest from the letters above). Based on the grain pattern, which block(s) do you think is best to use and why? Which should be avoided and why? (The upper left-hand block is A1, and the bottom right hand is H6.)

The weight of each block in ounces is as follows:

Code: Select all

      A      B      C      D      E      F      G      H
1	3.19	3.19	3.31	3.34	3.35	3.36	3.37	3.38
2	3.42	3.45	3.45	3.45	3.47	3.52	3.55	3.56
3	3.57	3.59	3.59	3.76	3.77	3.84	3.84	3.85
4	3.85	3.87	4.07	4.10	4.12	4.15	4.17	4.19
5	4.19	4.19	4.22	4.22	4.25	4.28	4.28	4.31
6	4.43	4.48	4.53	4.56	4.65	4.68	4.70	5.37
For those that prefer weights in grams:

Code: Select all

      A       B       C       D       E       F       G       H
1	 90.3	 90.3	 93.9	 94.7	 95.0	 95.3	 95.5	 95.9
2	 97.0	 97.7	 97.7	 97.9	 98.3	 99.8	100.7	100.9
3	101.3	101.8	101.9	106.6	106.9	108.9	109.0	109.1
4	109.1	109.8	115.5	116.2	116.8	117.7	118.1	118.7
5	118.8	118.9	119.7	119.7	120.6	121.3	121.4	122.3
6	125.6	126.9	128.3	129.2	131.7	132.6	133.2	152.1
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pwrd by tungsten
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by pwrd by tungsten »

For grain I like:

B4 and D5 and D2

I would flip B4 and B5 over before drilling holes.

I would pick D2 overalll because of good grain and light weight.

However I would check both ends to make sure the grain is consistent.

I like both rear axles going into basically the same grain pattern.
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by pwrd by tungsten »

I like H1 as well...
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by Stan Pope »

What a virtuoso pinehead performance!

Three cheers for FatSebastian! That was way above the call of duty, my friend!
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by pwrd by tungsten »

Yes very nice pinehead activity for a Friday night :-)

A5 and C4 and E4 are my least favorite perhaps...
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by sporty »

here our my suggestions.

good to use-

B4, B5, D4, E4, F4, G3,G5, H4.

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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by FatSebastian »

Stan Pope wrote:That was way above the call of duty, my friend!
I was hoping to explore the hypothesis that heavier blocks might have tighter grain. In case it is not obvious, block weight increases with each row. Based on the above sample, there appears to be very little correlation between block weight and grain spacing. Also, based on responses, it seems that grain orientation seems to be just a significant factor as grain spacing.
pwrd by tungsten wrote:Yes very nice pinehead activity for a Friday night :-)
... or early Saturday morning... :online2long:
sporty wrote:good to use- B4, B5, D4, E4, F4, G3,G5, H4.
These picks are basically in the middle of the weight range.
pwrd by tungsten wrote:For grain I like: B4 and D5 and D2 ... I like H1 as well...
And these preferences vary considerably by weight.
pwrd by tungsten wrote:A5 and C4 and E4 are my least favorite perhaps...
Interesting choices! I suppose that Sport favors tighter grain and pbt favors flat orientation?

Discussion?
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by psycaz »

Personally,

I prefer block A1.

I always prefer lighter blocks. Then go for as much vertical grain. I prefer to drill through the rings as opposed to with them.

Just always thought along the grain would influence the drill bit to vary than trying to drill through it.

Looks as if I might be wrong based upon what others are saying.
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by FatSebastian »

psycaz wrote:I always prefer lighter blocks. Then go for as much vertical grain. [...] Looks as if I might be wrong based upon what others are saying.
I suppose there are no right or wrong answers; rather, different preferences simply reflect different priorities.

(Suppose one prefers using a very heavy tungsten round as ballast; it does not matter what the grain pattern is if the car is overweight, so starting with a light block may be the safest option.)
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by pwrd by tungsten »

I would prefer a light block with vertical grain. However I do not find many blocks with vertical grain. When rules allowe I use Sugar Pine blocks which are very light.
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by quadad »

FatSebastian wrote:I always prefer lighter blocks. Then go for as much vertical grain. [...] Looks as if I might be wrong based upon what others are saying.
I am not sure what is right or wrong either, but my impression has been that drill bits are more likely to walk when going against the grain. I thought that brad point bit manufacturers advertise that they are much less sensitive to this issue.
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by FatSebastian »

quadad wrote:... my impression has been that drill bits are more likely to walk when going against the grain.
Within the context of drilling, does "against the grain" mean drilling parallel to the grain pattern, drilling perpendicular to the grain pattern, drilling obliquely to the grain pattern, or some combination thereof?

Said another way, considering block B4 (which has a nearly horizontal grain pattern), does "going against the grain" mean drilling perpendicular to the top/bottom (wide edge) of the block B4, or perpendicular to the sides (short edge), or ...?
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by *5 J's* »

Image

To add to sample, the above image is of 10 blocks from BSA #17006 kits purchased in September 2010 with code IN0809 stamped on side. Weights taken November 2010. The slots are on the bottom of each block in the picture. To avoid confusion I started my list at "I".

The weight of each block in ounces is as follows:

Code: Select all

      I       J       K       L       M   
1	3.240	3.490	3.730	3.795	3.860
2	3.970	3.975	3.980	4.280	4.120
My favorites based first on tight grain, then on weight, are I1, J1, and K1. It is interesting that I had no horizontally grain oriented blocks. I would suspect that a drill bit would be less likely to drift when entering a vertically oriented grain. I would also suspect a vertically oriented grain block to be stronger down its length - but if cut down to 1/4" - more likely to split down the length.
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by FatSebastian »

*5 J's* wrote:It is interesting that I had no horizontally grain oriented blocks.
Interesting indeed! You are showing more vertically-grained blocks in that one image than we've probably come across by chance going through scores of BSA kits over many years! I was going to ask whether your sample was from random purchases, or especially saved back because of their grain patterns. :thumbup:

:polling: What are the advantages of 5J's vertically grained blocks? Do you feel they might make better or worse thin bodies than the more-common horizontally grained blocks?
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Re: Block grain patterns and weights

Post by *5 J's* »

FatSebastian wrote:
*5 J's* wrote:It is interesting that I had no horizontally grain oriented blocks.
Interesting indeed! You are showing more vertically-grained blocks in that one image than we've probably come across by chance going through scores of BSA kits over many years! I was going to ask whether your sample was from random purchases, or especially saved back because of their grain patterns. :thumbup:
One online purchase from BSA in September.
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