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[Brian60]

Which timber would be the best/strongest to use for a mast? The dimensions are approx 12mm diameter to 8mm diameter over a length of approx 32cm.

I was also thinking of making this up from 4 square pieces glued together before shaping, the reasoning being I could plane off an internal angle from each piece before gluing to run the rx aerial up the centre, your thoughts please........

[Stavros]

I think it is spruce that has been reccomended in the past but will stand corrected if I am wrong
 
 
Dave

[steam up]

Try lemon wood or have a look for an old snooker cue from the car boot sales.

[Netleyned]

What is it for?
Only a foot long and half an inch
thick at base

A sail on that would not be very big.

Ned

[mrpenguin]

Which timber would be the best/strongest to use for a mast? The dimensions are approx 12mm diameter to 8mm diameter over a length of approx 32cm.

I was also thinking of making this up from 4 square pieces glued together before shaping, the reasoning being I could plane off an internal angle from each piece before gluing to run the rx aerial up the centre, your thoughts please........

If you are using 2.4GHz radio there is no need for a long aerial (up the mast or whatever), will most likely be Ok below deck unless the boat is all carbon fibre....
 

[hammer]

Straight grain is important, laminating will avoid this problem.

[tigertiger]

Hardwoods tend to be brittle, and are more prone to snap.
Woods that have some give, like most softwoods, are suitable.

[Brian60]

What is it for?
Only a foot long and half an inch
thick at base

A sail on that would not be very big.

Ned

Its a two piece mast on a sailing trawler.

The radio system is a cheap 40mhz set I bought for this project and while I've had no problems with thus type of set in the past with large grp hulls, this one is only around 18-24 inches long, so wanted to give the aerial the best chance by running it hidden up the mast.

So the concensus is to go for a softwood and my laminating it together is the best for strength. I'll see what the local timber shop can offer. I've bought a nice oak plank that is going to be ripped down to make the hull planking with, thats another story of steaming and bending.

[steam up]

If possible I would keep clear of oak it is very open grained at this scale making a nice finish difficult to achieve.
Cherry is a much better choice.

[hammer]

I will agree with that Oak can also be very unstable. Even if well seasoned when its worked it can move.

[Brian60]

Guys you've made a grown man cry, I paid 20 quid for my piece of oak! Now it seems I have to go and spend some more!

[hammer]

Don't cry. I am sure you will find ause for it one day. I have tried to post aphoto of my trawle..Geoff

[Brian60]

I've got to say Geoff that you posted some pics of her before and it inspired me! After I've almost completed my small grp hulled effort, I realised there would not be enough freeboard for it to sail anywhere but in the bath. So I'm making the effort to build a larger more seaworthy one in timber, hopefully I can get somewhere near the standard of yours.