I need a hard strong wood thats easy to find!

Here is some information that may help you. It is a long URL. If it doesn't execute well just do a Google search on "mechanical properties of wood".

I haven't gotten too deep into your website. Do you also do metal spinning to get these shapes?

DW

My initial gut reaction is that hard maple would do better than oak. My second reaction is that actual numbers are available in reference books. Parts of one of the best are available on-line:

That sort-of confirms my gut, but my gut is wrong depending on species of oak (the red that's common here is weaker in compression parallel to grain than sugar maple (which is aka hard maple). But if you can find some black locust you're in who-hoo land!

In any case, if your figure of 3500PSI is correct, many woods will do (and probably more than once) IF the load is primarily taken parallel to the grain (ie, on end-grain). Live oak appears to be the best bet for side-grain loading (in US woods). There must be some side loading in punching a 6 inch disk with a 2.5-3 inch punch, to form the sides. The die might benefit from hoops or pipe clamps to restrain it from splitting.

Lingnumvitae (steel might be cheaper) and Ipe look worth investigating for imported woods. Ipe is becoming common as deck material.

Probably Steve Russell has all ready done an exhaustive study on such a thing. Probably while at the same time composing a new movie score, re-engineering the W-88 warhead, developing a peace plan for the Middle East, etc. *G*

Leif

Thanks for the web reference on the strength of different wood species. I think that the easy winners are oak and maple.

The use of the hydraulic press forming technique allows one to rapidly achieve a vessel form which can then be customized by hammering, forming, spinning, etc.

Charles Friedman

If you can get scrap pallets from Brazil (the automakers ship from there) you may be able to get hold of as much tamarind as you can haul away. IIRC, the compressive strength on it is roughly 3x that of oak. I DO know that it hangs onto a nail for dear life!

If you are near the Detroit area (or willing to pay the UPS shipping charge elsewhere) I can pass along a good sized chunk of it for you to play with ... err, um 'tryout'.

If interested, reply here before we take it to email.

Bill

Try some persimmon, that is some tough wood. Glenn

Bill C wrote:

Hey Glenn, judging by what's happened to some good threads lately, I figure some turners may have tried to eat a green persimmon. :)

Thanks Charles for introducing a new (for me) alternative to spinning for making open form copper vessels. A technique to think about combining with woodturning or just to know about. The responses led to some good info re strength of the woods we turn.

Not sure re their compression resistance, but dry pecan and dry Australian pine aren't weaklings. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

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Don't know what part of the country you're in, but if you're in the southwest, then mesquite should be easy to locate. Mesquite is considered a nuisance plant to ranchers, so it is usually free for the hauling. It is about 50 % denser than the oak family, and very close grained. It is also very stable dimensionally. Sounds like your project and it would be a good match.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX.

Ken - get some BLACK LOCUST, a second to osage orange in hardness. I saw some today on Ebay. Not a common lumber but it will turn well with sharp tools. The chap on Ebay had cants 2-3/4 x 3" about 42 inches long at a reasonable price. Blocks coule be bolted together to attain larger sizes. Search for "black locust lumber". Double check the specs on hardness, but I think you will find the Black locust much harder than hickory or rock maple. The only question I would have is durability with repeated pressings. Fine details may wear away. Jim

Update:

Last Friday I picked up my punch and die set up from the machine shop. Yesterday the copper arrived and last nite the trial run. The set up worked perfectly. I had to wing it on some of the die dimensions but it worked. Now tonight off to the community college machine shop course to do a high polish on the parts. I will also try some wood punches later this week.

Charles Friedman DDS Ventura by the Sea (one hour north of LA on the Pacific)