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Maple wood for frames/Keel

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Hi all

Have anyone used Hard Maple for frames/keel/stem and stern post construction ?

Thank you !!
Daniel
 
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Hi all

Have anyone used Hard Maple for frames/keel/stem and stern post construction ?

Thank you !!
Daniel
I am seriously considering using Maple for small pieces and detail instead of the supplied Basswood. It is a very hard, durable wood with a tight grain. The drawback of it is when it comes to staining.
 
Daniel,
if the the woodgrain is not too coarse, I cannot see why you couldn't use it. I am sure Dave Stevens will chime in with his expertise.

The wood grain is very compacted and cut with clean borders like pear and boxwood. On top of that is cheaper than Pear and Boxwood.

Daniel
 
I am seriously considering using Maple for small pieces and detail instead of the supplied Basswood. It is a very hard, durable wood with a tight grain. The drawback of it is when it comes to staining.

Why staining is a problem ?

This is a good tip I will test in a scrap piece tomorrow.

Thanks
Daniel
 
Why staining is a problem ?

This is a good tip I will test in a scrap piece tomorrow.

Thanks
Daniel
It is a dense wood with a very tight grain. It absorbs stains very slowly, requiring often several coats. Note: it can also result in a splotchy and may require a pre-stain conditioner. And you may considrr a wood dye instead of staining.

Screenshot_20220222-200446_Chrome.jpg
 
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That wood would look great with a clear varnish on it, or a tung oil finish.

I will try to do a test on a piece and will report back.

Nevertheless, I am itching to know, why have not been used on frames, keel, etc. Most modelers use it for deck planking or small pieces, like my gratings.

I am itching now to test the stains tomorrow.

Thanks!!
Daniel
 
I will try to do a test on a piece and will report back.

Nevertheless, I am itching to know, why have not been used on frames, keel, etc. Most modelers use it for deck planking or small pieces, like my gratings.

I am itching now to test the stains tomorrow.

Thanks!!
Daniel
Great idea!
 
It is a dense wood with a very tight grain. It absorbs stains very slowly, requiring often several coats. Note: it can also result in a splotchy and may require a pre-stain conditioner. And you may considrr a wood dye instead of staining.

View attachment 292850

Thank you !! I will use a wood sealer first and then do my testing. Or if I have enought, with/out the wood sealer
 
It is a dense wood with a very tight grain. It absorbs stains very slowly, requiring often several coats. Note: it can also result in a splotchy and may require a pre-stain conditioner. And you may considrr a wood dye instead of staining.

View attachment 292850

I was reading that staining or using a dye both will leave blotches. In both cases it is suggested to use a wood sealer before stain or dye.

I need yet to look what can happen with oils.

Nevertheless, I would like to hear if someone have used Maple to built frames, keel, etc, instead of Cherry, Pear or Boxwood.

Is a little more expensive or similar price than Cherry, but definitely cheaper than Pear and Boxwood.

Is this stain " the issue" because modelers dont like the creamy color or is something on the wood itself that make it not good for POF ships.

About the wood color, I got Alaskan Yellow Cedar, that is being used in few ship models. Is really Yellowish. Nevertheless, a POF ship looks very nice with the Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Is more expensive and more difficult to find than Maple. Of course, there will be always a regional factor that makes one more available than others.

Nevertheless, why I don't see POF ships done with Maple.... what am I missing here ?

Cheers and thanks for your responses !!

Daniel
 
Nevertheless, why I don't see POF ships done with Maple.... what am I missing here ?


Nevertheless, I would like to hear if someone have used Maple to built frames, keel, etc, instead of Cherry, Pear or Boxwood.


i used Maple to frame the Tecumseth,


Harold Hahn used Maple to build the ships in his colonial shipyard diorama. I sell a lot of timbering sets in Maple.
An interesting bit of information is forums like this are only a small fraction of model ship being built so you are not really seeing the whole picture.

here is a Confederacy frames with Maple

 
Nevertheless, why I don't see POF ships done with Maple.... what am I missing here ?


Nevertheless, I would like to hear if someone have used Maple to built frames, keel, etc, instead of Cherry, Pear or Boxwood.


i used Maple to frame the Tecumseth,


Harold Hahn used Maple to build the ships in his colonial shipyard diorama. I sell a lot of timbering sets in Maple.
An interesting bit of information is forums like this are only a small fraction of model ship being built so you are not really seeing the whole picture.

here is a Confederacy frames with Maple


WOW Dave.... thank you for the link. I will check your build. I visited it from time to time, lot of teaching there. But I didn't realized your frames were done with Maple.

Thanks !!!
Daniel
 
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