Swingman wrote:
> "J R" wrote in message
> > Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
> > that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
> > away?
>
> Cypress does a pretty good job of it ... although all wood will eventually
> decay.
My brother told me of an encounter on a motorcycle trip he'd taken. He
ran across a small forest of stumps in a swampy meadow, and asked about
it at the next town. He asked if there was much logging in the area
and mentioned the stumps. He was told they were cypress trees that had
been cut down 70 years ago! So, yeah, I guess cypress does a pretty
good job with the elements. ;)
R
> Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
> that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
> away?
>
Beside others mentioned, Ipe ´[also called] Pao Lope decking, and teak. If you
get into sawing the Ipe´ be prepared that the wood is full of silicates (rock sand)
that grows into the trees as the tree drinks through it's roots. This wears down
carbide quicker than woods without it. You would use Harbour Freight carbide
saw blades. The teak is simply far more expensive.
--
Alex - "newbie_neander" woodworker
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/
[email protected] wrote:
> It would depend on your application and environment. A cedar shingle
> roof can last a few decades in some areas. A log completely submerged
> in fresh water can yield usable lumber after several decades. We have
> a ship here in Baltimore, the Constellation, that was built before the
> Civil War. I understand it still has "some" of the original timbers in
> her.
We've got a few of those here in Mystic, as well.
Amazing!
Azobe is 160% densers than red oak and supposedly almost immune to rot.
Used for railroad ties and bridge tressles. I'll make you a great deal on
some - $1.00 a board foot. Located in Alabama.
Bob
"J R" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
> that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
> away?
>
"J R" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
> that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
> away?
>
Durability? Yep, just depends on if you want "natural" bacteria/fungicide
or man-made pressure-treated.
No wood is waterproof. Its job was to carry water, after all.
"Dzine" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well here in the UK elm was the wood of choice for underground water
> pipes, 10" baulks 10' long drilled with a manual auger. Also used as
> dish drainers and baths.
>
Here (USA) too. Not sure why the Roman ceramic fad went out of style,
though I suppose those with acid water will not regret us discarding lead
piping....
On Fri, 10 Mar 2006 18:15:09 -0500, [email protected] (J R) wrote:
>Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
>that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
>away?
Wood has been recovered from rivers, spending several decades under
water. But for outdoor furniture, you can select cedar, redwood,
white oak, teak, and cypress. Without regular applications of some
finish, expect these woods to last 15 years or so.
Cypress & Redwood I beleive would do it . . .
"J R" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
> that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
> away?
>
It would depend on your application and environment. A cedar shingle
roof can last a few decades in some areas. A log completely submerged
in fresh water can yield usable lumber after several decades. We have
a ship here in Baltimore, the Constellation, that was built before the
Civil War. I understand it still has "some" of the original timbers in
her.
--
Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]
"Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>J R wrote:
>> Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
>> that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
>> away?
>
> I believe willow was once used for the "wet" parts of a watermill.
>
> er
> --
> email not valid
Knots from apple trees were the bearings for "said" watermill.
Lyndell :-)
The distinction that must be made is this:
Wood timbers, in this case pilings will last virtually forever
"immersed" in "fresh" water (salt water contains marine borers and
other creatures that love wood).
One wing of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was built on wood
pilings in a peat bog and therefore the piles were saturated for the
1000 years until the structure was to be re-built. The pilings were
re-used.
Any wood *partially saturated* - alternately wet and dry - will rot.
Some fast, some slowly.
Me P.E.
***
On Sat, 11 Mar 2006 13:24:39 GMT, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I also recall reading sometime ago about some greenheart pilings that
>had been removed from the Thames River...said they were still good after
>300 years of immersion.
Teak
--
I've never learned anything from someone who agreed
with me.
"J R" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof,
naturally? Something
| that could be expected to hold up for several decades
without rotting
| away?
|
J R wrote:
> Is there a wood that is pretty much waterproof, naturally? Something
> that could be expected to hold up for several decades without rotting
> away?
Well, lignum vitae is frequently stored in tanks of water. It has
numerous uses including the propeller shaft bearings on ships. Very
heavy (heaviest) and generally sold by the pound.
I also recall reading sometime ago about some greenheart pilings that
had been removed from the Thames River...said they were still good after
300 years of immersion.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico