Making Ribs for a 1917 Sopwith Camel Ep6

[@garyruxton5226]

I used to build muzxleloading rifles and air dried 3" maple planks were dipped on both ends in wax right off the tree. None of them split. It will save your timbers while in storage.

[@MattProject]

Hi Gary, you will see in earlier vids the timber stack includes timber with black painted ends. The black paint is waterproofing paint for water tanks which I had spare after a job. It was applied immediately after milling (by me) to retard moisture loss through the end grain. These timbers are doing well. The ones suffering issues are those that have been broken down from these larger baulks (up to 6"x6"). ie. the processed aircraft timber waiting to be turned into parts. The problem is more related to moving for work from a climate with low temp/high humidity to one of high temp/low humidity. This dramatically impacts and lowers the Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC), the moisture % timber will stabilize at in that environment. In effect, timber that was happy and drying at a leisurely rate, suddenly started drying very quickly with the outer skin drying much faster than the inner moisture can migrate to the outer skin. Outer skin tightens then splits... I've learned a lot about milling timber through this process. I'll do a few things differently next time, like not move!!! Most of the splits and warping has happened in loose grained timber. Aircraft grade Spruce needs at least 6 rings per inch. It seems tight grained timber is less prone to these problems. Not immune though.

[@declankell597]

The Emperor approves......

[@MattProject]

lol, my loyalties lie elsewhere my friend 😉 Think of this as a Flyboyz project...

[@declankell597]

@@MattProjectThen sir it should be painted in GoFasta Red for it is the best colour.