minor man
Junior Member
life is to short
Posts: 53
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Post by minor man on Aug 6, 2008 16:15:57 GMT 10
hi all need info on what type of wood to use for the main chassis brian
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Post by trodler on Aug 6, 2008 17:09:31 GMT 10
Hi Brian. Need a bit more info on what you are doing. Would it be more practicle to weld up a steel chassis and A frame ? Or if you mean the cross members for the chassis your local timber yard should be able to sort you out with some dressed hardwood.
Cheers. Trodler.
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minor man
Junior Member
life is to short
Posts: 53
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Post by minor man on Aug 6, 2008 20:10:30 GMT 10
thanks trodler i will try them, trying to rebuild it as it was first built it appeals to me,the plan is to keep it as original as pos on the out side
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2008 20:57:40 GMT 10
Hi 53s2mm Dont ask me why but i always have been of the belief that most old wooden chassis timber was ironbark. I have never asked the question before but i have had a few old vans with wooden chassis's. all have been in excellent condition from around the early to mid 50s. The little 9'2" van i am restoring at the moment has a wooden chassis with steel draw bar. The timber rails/bearers are as tough as teak... but i am sure it isnt teak. I probably got the notion that the timber is ironbark as it is a very dark red colour when cut or drilled. I suppose if ironbark railway sleepers can stand up to years of hard work , then it would be more than capabale of handling the rigours of holding an old van together on the road. Reddo... President of the Royal Society for the Preservation of Bondwood Vans in Australia. ;D
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minor man
Junior Member
life is to short
Posts: 53
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Post by minor man on Aug 6, 2008 21:46:51 GMT 10
thanks reddo will check out timber yard in next few days brian
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Post by Franklin1 on Aug 6, 2008 23:34:01 GMT 10
G'day brian, Looking at the photos of your van in the other thread, the timber looks like oregon. Certainly the cabin framework looks very much like oregon (a common timber used for framing back in those days) and although the timber bearers under the van are somewhat dirty, the bits that I can see of the timber grain pattern suggest it is also oregon. This is still a readily available timber, although nowadays a lot of it comes from NZ rather than Canada/USA as in the past. Before you rush out and order any of this type of timber, have a read of the bottom of this webpage... www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2003/archives/2003/home_among_the_gum_trees/around_the_home/timber_mythsOregon is a good building timber providing you stop it from regularly getting wet. cheers, Al.
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Post by Jennison on Aug 17, 2008 6:35:22 GMT 10
There is a company in Sydney that sells recycled oregon taken/recycled from 150 to 200 year old warehouses in USA. Much better quality and well and truly "cured' compared to the rushed out kiln dried crap available these days. I will try to find the details It does seem surprising to me that they would have used oregon in a situation for heavy loadbearing work or where there is a risk of the timber working or moving. Oregon that is available these days, is great to work with but very soft. Framework I can understand , but main chassis?? jennison PS just read the burke backyard thing (above)-comments re:Old growth USA oregon support my comments of using the recycled 150 yr old warehouse timber. Timberline furniture sell furniture made from this recycled stuff. Their head office may be able to pass on a name/supplier in the states regards Jennison
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minor man
Junior Member
life is to short
Posts: 53
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Post by minor man on Aug 17, 2008 21:18:59 GMT 10
hi thanks all but i have got some hard wood from a timber yard called harper timber at pendle hill. brian
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2008 7:26:17 GMT 10
Hi
I tend to agree with jennison. I would not use Oregon or any other softwood in any situation where it is going to be subject to water or load bearing stress. True... It is great to work with and easy to nail /screw into but you need that solid tight grained hard wood for a chassis that is going to be subject to not only moisture but shocks and jolts from road conditions. Looks like your on the right track with the timber yard mob. As a matter of ineret make sure you find out the type of timber they are supplying you with. There is some types of gum tree that have very hard timber . Still reckon ironbark would be hard to beat ( pardon the pun). Reddo
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