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What wood for mast core?

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SaulOhio
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What wood for mast core?

Postby SaulOhio » Fri May 25, 2018 11:51 am

I plan on carving a wooden core for a mast on my CNC machine, then covering it with carbon. Anyone have any advice on what kind of wood? I'm thinking poplar.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby hyptocrypto » Fri May 25, 2018 3:52 pm

I would assume Paulownia would give you the strongest strength/weight ratio. Balsa would be even lighter but Paulownia would be quite a bit stronger I suppose.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby hyptocrypto » Fri May 25, 2018 3:56 pm

If I had a cnc machine I would definitely build my own mast using Paulownia/Balsa. You could make your life really simple do the same for a fuselage and join the two by permanently glassing them together, that way you wouldn't need to fuss with complicated joinery. Good luck

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby SaulOhio » Fri May 25, 2018 5:43 pm

I am experimenting with different masts, and building separate masts for my windsurfer. I will be needing to use the same fuselage with different masts. But thanks.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby tmcfarla » Fri May 25, 2018 5:55 pm

I wouldn’t worry about strength-to-weight ratio, a wood core will be light either way. I would be most concerned with how well a wood shapes in the cnc. I would think any durable softwood that shapes well and is easy to get would be fine.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby faklord » Fri May 25, 2018 6:53 pm

I would go for Paulownia if you can get it, with Western Red Cedar as a close second.
Obviously you want to have the wood fully sealed so you get no water penetration. However if water does somehow get into contact with the wood core (eg through a leading edge collision with debris) Paulownia will cope best..particularly with sea water. Cedar is also pretty tolerant to water, which is one reason it is used in the building trade as cladding and roofing.

You also need to choose something that is going to be stable, so it doesn’t warp while your machining it or in between machining and laminating, or during lamination - may need a jig to hold straight while laminating?
A good quality marine ply (or even aircraft quality ply) is another option.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby SaulOhio » Fri May 25, 2018 7:51 pm

I found a source for paulownia, but the hours are inconvenient. I'm going to Home Depot today to see what I can find there.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby plummet » Fri May 25, 2018 9:43 pm

I use bamboo. It is harder stronger and heavier than the soft woods. But it also doesn't easily break or if exposed to water for a while won't get waterlogged.

My bamboo/carbon mast/fuse/wings weighs in at 3kg.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby plummet » Fri May 25, 2018 9:44 pm

Search plummet hammerhead foil on here and yourl find my build.

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Re: What wood for mast core?

Postby downunder » Sat May 26, 2018 3:31 am

I used Paul. wood and shaped it in a few hrs. The problem are brass inserts for fuse/board connection since wood is not that hard. Remember, this inserts are in brass to give away first if hitting the bottom. Just like WS fins, right?
I did a fuse/mast connection as well and a fuse in soft wood. Takes 1hr to shape a fuse by hand, mast slot included. Takes more to wrap it in carbon. At the end, glued it permanently to mast by mistake :)

For your WS I would go with bamboo. Or, you'll need at least 5-6 carbon wraps on your mast. It is torsion where Pwood is not that great as bamboo. I have both and compared the bending, torsion etc. for CNC bamboo would be better choice, hand shaping pwood is better.

D.


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