A good article on the pros and cons

 

I'll have to say, I have admired the ipe.  At my last house, I lived a couple of lots away from a city park.  They had one of their benches on the sidewalk.  I walked by it every couple of days on the way the the grocery store.  It was a busy street and the bench would have full sun all day, rain, snow, salt, and whatever.   Even after a dozen years, it looked great, got a nice gray patina, no cracking or mossy growth.  Cons are it's as hard as the hubs of Hades.  My buddy, Steve Mickley, convinced the city that they did not want to use red oak and sold them this.

 

I had a customer once that wanted a piece replaced on a patio chair.  I tried to convince her that I could use white oak and it would work fine.   She was kind of snobby and told me this was for the richest suburb in town and she wanted teak.  After a trip to the lumber store, I managed to get a teak cutoff about 2' long and it was about $25.  There were lots of cuts to get it all fit.  Then she was a bit shocked at what I had to charge for it.  Too bad, Karen, it was your choice and you are from Indian Hill.  I didn't make much money from it.

Thanks for the article!

 

Runs in my mind that "Old Ironsides" was made from white oak. I think I remember reading an article about it and they even have a grove of trees planted somewhere to use when needed for repairs.

In the mid 1800's supply of white oak crotches was short because the crotch was used on ships and had been overcut.

9 hours ago, lew said:

Thanks for the article!

 

Runs in my mind that "Old Ironsides" was made from white oak. I think I remember reading an article about it and they even have a grove of trees planted somewhere to use when needed for repairs.

Yes it was (is). I'm proud to say that Oak grove is right here in the Hoosier State.

 

https://www.indianaconnection.org/ironsides-of-indiana-oak/

24 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Yes it was (is). I'm proud to say that Oak grove is right here in the Hoosier State.

 

https://www.indianaconnection.org/ironsides-of-indiana-oak/

Thanks!!!

Going by their chart, mahogany is one of the best choices for outdoor furniture use.  That surprises me, but I don't get out much...

 

outdoor woods

By kmealy, 22 hours ago in General Woodworking

 

Not to be picky on semantics but aren't all "woods" outdoors? I guess some were indoors on Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, and Rawhide

4 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Not to be picky on semantics but aren't all "woods" outdoors?

 

Trying not to be picky but not all woods.

 

When our USAF son and family was stationed on Okinawa, we visited them for two weeks. Among some of the wonderful places we we saw was an indoor rain forest. Fully grown native trees of various species. Plus all sorts of huge tropicical plants.  The biggest green house we'd ever seen. Covered about 5, or more, acres. 

 

On 5/13/2022 at 7:31 AM, Cal said:

Going by their chart, mahogany is one of the best choices for outdoor furniture use.  That surprises me, but I don't get out much...

 

Isn't mahogany what they used on the old Chris Craft boats????

3 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Isn't mahogany what they used on the old Chris Craft boats????

Pretty sure you're correct on that Fred. Those were (are) beautiful boats and still very highly popular assuming you have lots of green.

14 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Isn't mahogany what they used on the old Chris Craft boats????

 

That right there is a cool old boat, Fred!

Now I am wondering if they were all right hand drives?

2 hours ago, Cal said:

Now I am wondering if they were all right hand drives?

 

Made me do an image search and I didn't see a single left drive.  How about that.

I haven't seen a lot of those in person, but every one I saw was left steer....aren't most boats (with a steering wheel) that way?

Edited May 15, 20224 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

1 hour ago, HandyDan said:

 

Made me do an image search and I didn't see a single left drive.  How about that.

I wonder if there is a reason? Google says that 2/3 of the countries drive on the right. Why are boats different? Gotta be a better reason than that's just the way it's always been. 

Red right, land in sight. Pretty much defines the roadways for boats

3 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I haven't seen a lot of those in person, but every one I saw was left steer....aren't most boats (with a steering wheel) that way?

On my plastic (fiberglass boat) the steering wheel was located starboard side. (HA see that, I was being nautical. Right side!) ( sometimes I crack myself up!)

I dunno know what the reason is, but maybe it had to do with docking? The slip I had was on a river, and when the wind was blowing, and the current was ripping, there was VERY little time to get the boat secured to the dock before she went other than where you wanted. I believe I single-handedly provided much entertainment to the patio critics where I was situated. 

Dad had a wooden recreational boat (not Chris Craft, but vee hull) when I was growing up. Bought it new, but un-rigged. Steering, motor controls instruments, seating all to be installed. Steering , motor controls all designed for right hand install. Later years both boats friends we camped with were RH drive. Both fiberglass tri-hulls; one open front deck; one inboard, outdrive, other outboard.

 

FWIW: https://gemlux.com/blogs/boating/why-are-boat-steering-wheels-on-the-right-side

Edited May 15, 20224 yr by Grandpadave52

4 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I haven't seen a lot of those in person, but every one I saw was left steer....aren't most boats (with a steering wheel) that way?

To correct my brain fart...I meant every one I saw was right steer....sorry, must have skipped my meds this morning....or maybe I got my port and starboard crossed up.

Edited May 15, 20224 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr