? what hardwood for window mullions and purlins ?

On Jan 29, 6:24=A0pm, [email protected] wrote:
> Hi, I'm designing an old-timey style multi-pane wood window where
> wooden mullions and purlins have channels to hold panes of glass. =A0For
> this application the energy efficiency is not important but the
> durability is. =A0I would prefer a
> hardwood, not cedar, and a wood that is more resistant to cracking
> parallel to its grain. =A0(I found that as strong as red oak is, it
> likes to crack that way.)
>
> What are some low to moderately priced hardwoods that would fit the
> bill?

Ipe is hard and rot resistant and not too too expensive. Different
types of "lyptus" are also becoming widely available and are also very
good outside. You've also got teak and mahogany that are pretty good,
but more expensive. How about white oak? Are these going to be
painted? Cypress is a bit tougher than cedar or redwood, and still
holds up real well in the weather. I've also read that cherry and
even walnut are pretty decent outside, although I've no experience.

I'd look at ipe and lyptus. You might can find decking boards that
would suit your needs at a pretty good price. Personally, I'd go with
cypress. I built some garden stuff out of it that is as good as day
one, and it's outside year round here in upstate New York.

JP

On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:44:18 -0800 (PST), Jay Pique
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Jan 29, 6:24 pm, [email protected] wrote:
>> Hi, I'm designing an old-timey style multi-pane wood window where
>> wooden mullions and purlins have channels to hold panes of glass.  For
>> this application the energy efficiency is not important but the
>> durability is.  I would prefer a
>> hardwood, not cedar, and a wood that is more resistant to cracking
>> parallel to its grain.  (I found that as strong as red oak is, it
>> likes to crack that way.)
>>
>> What are some low to moderately priced hardwoods that would fit the
>> bill?
>
>Ipe is hard and rot resistant and not too too expensive. Different
>types of "lyptus" are also becoming widely available and are also very
>good outside. You've also got teak and mahogany that are pretty good,
>but more expensive. How about white oak? Are these going to be
>painted? Cypress is a bit tougher than cedar or redwood, and still
>holds up real well in the weather. I've also read that cherry and
>even walnut are pretty decent outside, although I've no experience.
>
>I'd look at ipe and lyptus. You might can find decking boards that
>would suit your needs at a pretty good price. Personally, I'd go with
>cypress. I built some garden stuff out of it that is as good as day
>one, and it's outside year round here in upstate New York.
>
>JP
Had a rail fence back on the farm over 100 years old. Many rails were
cherry. Some were Chestnut, and some were Hickory. Some were white
oak. I think some were walnut (black) and I know some were hornbeam
(ironwood)
Then there were the cedar ones.

We had an elm bush, but I don't think any of the (surviving) rails
were elm.

On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:44:18 -0800 (PST), Jay Pique
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Jan 29, 6:24 pm, [email protected] wrote:
>> Hi, I'm designing an old-timey style multi-pane wood window where
>> wooden mullions and purlins have channels to hold panes of glass.  For
>> this application the energy efficiency is not important but the
>> durability is.  I would prefer a
>> hardwood, not cedar, and a wood that is more resistant to cracking
>> parallel to its grain.  (I found that as strong as red oak is, it
>> likes to crack that way.)
>>
>> What are some low to moderately priced hardwoods that would fit the
>> bill?
>
>Ipe is hard and rot resistant and not too too expensive. Different
>types of "lyptus" are also becoming widely available and are also very
>good outside. You've also got teak and mahogany that are pretty good,
>but more expensive. How about white oak? Are these going to be
>painted? Cypress is a bit tougher than cedar or redwood, and still
>holds up real well in the weather. I've also read that cherry and
>even walnut are pretty decent outside, although I've no experience.
>
>I'd look at ipe and lyptus. You might can find decking boards that
>would suit your needs at a pretty good price. Personally, I'd go with
>cypress. I built some garden stuff out of it that is as good as day
>one, and it's outside year round here in upstate New York.
>
>JP
Douglas Fir was the most common sash material here in Ontario years
back.