Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

Ipe doesn't need a finish at all. It will just weather to a silver gray. It doesn't rot even when submerged for long periods of time. It's a tough heavy wood and it is tough on tools!!! Google "IPE" wood. There are some good articles on it and where you can buy it. If I had to replace stringers on a boat, I would consider using it. It might increase the weight of the boat too much but it won't rot!!

Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

Yeah, with IPE, the key is going to be in the hand picking. I ordered in a pile of it for outdoor landings and stair treads and was really looking forward to using it. What I got was such a pile of crap (grain all dug up from going through the planner, etc.) that I took it all back - nearly got a hernia loading it back in the truck.

It does sound like it would be nice for trimming the boat - I've got a bunch of that to do (unless I go tupperware). Need to find a stocking dealer.

M-shark, I believe MJ did a bunch of Starboard stuff on his boat and I think he mentioned predrilling the screw holes. I've never worked with the stuff, but for predrilling in general, you want to use a drill bit that's as close as possible to the size of the "shank" of the screw (i.e. just the threads sticking out to bite into the material), to avoid splitting. Also, be careful about overtightening - set your screw gun clutch light and check/finish tighten by hand to avoid stripping them out.

G-1, How bad is the IPE on carbide bits and blades?

Thanks - Scott

Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

the screw holes are like 1 or 2 sizes smaller in starboard.
Worked out great!! you can see all starboard work here:

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...umName=album09

Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

MJ - That is a nice lookin' tackel box - I like how you made it work for the plastic boxes, so you can set up for different fishing and just stick in the boxes you want for that trip - I need to do something like that.

Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

CB came over and helped me with it. we had fun doing it, and made some mistakes, but now we know how the next one will be built.
Cb might want to make one when he picks up a boat he likes.
It does make things nice!! I have all my tackle right were I can get it and no tackel boxes on the deck to fool around with or forget to latch cloased so when you pick them up all the stuff lands on the deck!! :o

And that thing holds a ton of sinkers!! I am very happy with it!

Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

Hi Oregon V20,

Planing IPE is alot like planing hard maple only worse. Your planer will gouge the face of the board wherever the the grain is figured. As I mentioned, you need good, powerful power tools with sharp blades. Since you are in Oregon, I can't direct you to a lumberyard that stocks IPE. I have a local supplier about 10 miles from my home in PA, and I can hand pick my stock. IPE is getting to be a very popular wood for decking and there should be a lumberyard in your vicinity that stocks it. There was a website for finding hardwoods and wood in general in all locals of the US called "Woodfinder" or something like that, that used your zip code for the search. I will try to find the URL and post it.

Ed G.

Re: Cuddy Door Help
 

That would be:

www.woodfinder.com

Ed G.