Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Engineering Techniques and Materials. => Topic started by: essex2visuvesi on December 04, 2009, 01:26:17 pm

Title: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: essex2visuvesi on December 04, 2009, 01:26:17 pm
I decided to start looking at building a Billing boats mayflower kit I got from Ebay.  Its quite an old one but was still all sealed in packages.  The problem I have is the wood seems to be awfully dry and brittle.  Im Happy to replace the planking and other bits but the precut plywood is more of a problem
Any one have any suggestions on how I can get some "life" back ito the plywood sections.
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: derekwarner on December 04, 2009, 02:39:11 pm
Essex.........natural wood does dry out as mother nature intended....however I cannot see the .... "the wood seems to be awfully dry and brittle" as a real issue ...

Adding moisture [water spraying] will only swell the timber.....then this un natural H2O content will evaporate .......& the timber will shrink back to the natural state/size

If you have any concerns with the pre-cut ply cracking...you could steam the sections prior to any required bending

Another suggestion is to take a 300 mm length of the kit planking to your local hobby shop & say.......I would just like to compare & purchase some additional planks...etc....you may just find that the new shop planks appear just as dry & brittle as your sample

Timber planking is so rewarding  :-))......let us know how you progress..........Derek
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: essex2visuvesi on December 04, 2009, 03:23:27 pm
Ok thanks for the speedy reply on that one

Ill post some results when I get something worth photographing lol
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: tigertiger on December 05, 2009, 01:17:40 am
The other thing that affects wood is central heating. As this in an unatural dryness. If the box has been stored near a radiator it may be over dry. You will also have some shrinkage.

Try leaving the kit in a more natural environment for a few weeks. Like a shed/garage. Or as was suggested, moisten the planks, but let them dry in the shed. And see if this changes things.

just some thoughts
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: gondolier88 on December 05, 2009, 10:53:22 am
The Krick Victoria kit I built had been stored in a boathouse roof for 15 years- covered in condensation in winter and dried to within an inch of it's life in summer- the pre-cut plywood in the kit was absolutely knackered- it just fell apart in your hands- I used non of the kit in the end- used oak, cedar and sapelle to make a completely different boat altogether- only used the hull.

Greg
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: tigertiger on December 05, 2009, 11:23:50 am
I seem to remember that there is some kind of timber preservative use on floor and roof timbers. It soakes in to the wood and set hard.

If it appears the timbers are knacked, and it looks lke you will be replacing them all, it cannot hurt to give it a go.
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: essex2visuvesi on December 06, 2009, 05:02:27 pm
A test today has solved a problem

I took the ply into the sauna with me :)
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: gondolier88 on December 06, 2009, 10:34:32 pm
Far too much time on your hands for a boat modeller {-)

Greg
Title: Re: Building an old Kit - Dry wood issues
Post by: Colin Bishop on December 06, 2009, 10:35:43 pm
Did you beat yourself with it afterwards?