Couple Oak Planks

[rarefish383]

Needed new side boards for the trailer. I'm happy with the way they came out. Where I trimmed the big bottom plank, with a circular saw, the line was a little wavy. So I stuck the saws all between the gap and cut right down the line and it took the humps right out. The battery died on me so I bolted every thing together. If I had of waited for the battery to charge back up I think I could have closed the gap up to where you couldn't see it. But, it's just a trailer. I bolted the heavy tie downs back to back on both sides to pull the boards in tight. Inside ones to pull loads of brush down tight so I can stack more on, outside ones for tarp or whatever. Gonna put a couple more tie downs down low to secure equipment and such, Joe.

 

[Mike Van]

Out in the weather Joe, those small gaps won't matter after a few months. Those sideboards will 'get her done' for many years.

 

[Dave Boyt]

That will make a nice firewood hauler.

 

[Time's Standing Stihl]

Turned out very nice!

 

[rarefish383]

Was thinking about giving them a good coat of Spar Urethane trying to keep some of the color for a while, but one of them is starting to turn gray already. It's supposed to warm up some tomorrow so maybe I'll give a try, Joe.

 

[Dave Boyt]

Nothin' wrong with a little gray. I like the tie-downs, by the way. You can't have too many!

 

[buzz sawyer]

Looks very nice. The urethane won't last long, let 'em go gray. What kind of oak - red, white?

 

[rarefish383]

It's Red Oak. There is a spot a foot or so long, right in the pith, that's starting to rot. I put it on the inside so you can't see it. Since they are up in the air and will stay dry they should last a good while. My Dad had a brand new 72 Chevy C30 12 ft stake body. We hauled wood and chips on it. It had a Pine bed painted blue. When it got banged up and cracked and started rotting out I replaced it with unpainted White Oak, and was surprised when it only lasted a couple years. It was pretty common for a load of hot steaming chips to sit on it for a couple days or over the weekend waiting to get a full load. I won't have that problem with these though. I was thinking about using Black Walnut just to see the response I'd get from people who recognized it, but I like Oak better, Joe.

 

[SDB777]

You could always lather on the boiled linseed oil(BLO), it will get some color to POP and give you a little more then nothing for the protection. The stuff doesn't cost much, and you can put as many coats on as the wood will suck up.....just a thought.

The thickness on these?



Scott (pickle for breakfast?) B

 

[laddo90]

if u put two coats on the them it should last.

 

[firebrick43]

I would avoid polyurathane or varnish as well. Looks good for a while but wants it starts cracking and pealing all you can do is take it back to bare wood, you cant touch it up. Boiled linseed will work but tends to turn black when exposed outside, but that is what I would use.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I wouldn't put anything on them, when they get beat up, they become firewood. Then mill out a couple more!

Off the ground, they will last a long time, even with no finish..

SR

 

[rarefish383]

SBD, I think they are 6/4. Just by chance they are almost dead nuts the same thickness as the angle iron I used in the front, Joe.

 

[Dave Boyt]

Walnut would be a great choice. Not too heavy and will outlast white oak. Hedge would be another good choice, if you can find planks wide enough. Heavy, though. I'm surprised the white oak rotted out so quickly. If you build out of all heartwood, it should be good for at least ten years.

 

[rarefish383]

Dave, that was back in the 80's, and as a working truck the bed got beat up every day. I don't remember if it rotted out first or cracked and chipped. I think the steaming loads of chips kept it soft. It seemed like the original Pine bed would absorb a hard knock from a big block of wood and the Oak would crack. When I sold the truck in the early 90's it had holes you could stick your foot through. The Pine bed held up longer, but I don't know what treatment it had from the manufacturer, other than it had been painted blue. The Oak was just raw wood, no paint or anything. Another thing, by the time I put the Oak bed on the truck we had gotten a new Ford F600 with a steel dump and the old Chevy got less use. Any way, I'm happy with these side boards, and I'll take better care of them than I did the poor old Chevy, Joe.