Thanks: 0
Likes: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 6 of 6
-
6th September 2011, 11:49 AM #1
New Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 7
Durability of OB hardwood as decking
Hi guys,
I'm thinking of saving some money for a planned deck by thicknessing down some old OBHW studs, and using them as decking boards.
Does anyone know in general the tree species used for OB? I presume it would have been what was plentiful in the day...probably Eucalypts, and therefore would be OK with a couple of coats of oil.
Am I crazy or might my evil plan just work?
Having done some demo work on my old places before and thrown out skips full of timber, I'm really starting to appreciate the actual value of even these old pieces, and thought decking could be the perfect use for them (given no need for T&G etc)
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Cheers,
Steve
-
6th September 2011 11:49 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
6th September 2011, 12:26 PM #2
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Nov 2003
- Location
- Sydney
- Age
- 53
- Posts
- 8,879
I think you are crazy. Do you have pictures of what the studs are like?
Visit my website at www.myFineWoodWork.com
-
6th September 2011, 12:58 PM #3
New Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 7
No pics of the studs at this stage, as I don't have them yet. I'm helping a mate do a reno soon, and there will be some timber from the demo here...thinking of stockpiling some until I have enough.
Part of me thinks...too much effort in cleaning up the studs, and part of me thinks, a days work to save a couple of grand for a potentially interesting result....
-
6th September 2011, 02:18 PM #4
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Nov 2003
- Location
- Sydney
- Age
- 53
- Posts
- 8,879
How much wood to machine are we talking about here? Don't forget that the studs won't be flat and straight. It will be very hard to machine them into usable decking boards. And don't forget about removing nails and screws. Are you able to machine long boards? Or you will have to use short pieces for you deck. To me it will be too much effort for a potentially disaster.
Visit my website at www.myFineWoodWork.com
-
6th September 2011, 04:54 PM #5
New Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 7
You're probably right, but I would obviously be selective and use the straighest studs.
I have a planer/thicknesser combo machine so would flatten one side first before thicknessing.
And as long as any bows weren't too extreme, I think I could straighten the boards as they were screwed down.
As for lengths, I'd be using 2.7m and 3m studs, and wouldn't bother with shorter pieces.
Cheers,
Steve
-
20th November 2011, 09:33 PM #6
Novice
- Join Date
- Feb 2008
- Location
- melbourne
- Posts
- 18
I'm really interested to hear about how you go here…
The problem I can see is that you could end up with any type of timber, and each gum tree has it's own durability. Ironbark being up the top (prob not found in studs in Melbourne) and Mountain ash (which a lot of newer OB in Victoria is) weathering awfully.
If the studs are old you would have more chance of getting a decent durable timber, could be worth taking a small sample to a specialist to try and find out what species you have.
Could look great wharf-style if you only clean up some 50mm studs and have nice chunky deck boards, but as Wongo said it would be an enormous amount of work, try getting hand-cut nails out of super dense hardwood that has been drying for over 100 years
Reply With Quote
