Wooden scales

Hi all,

I have some old wooden planes laying around that are damaged, so I figured I might as well re-use some of the wood
they're laminated plane soles and I have 3 different woods available to make scales out of:

- Lignum Vitae
- Ekki
- Holm Oak

These woods seem pretty good with water and moisture, but I haven't worked with them much.

Lignum Vitae and Ekki seem to do specially good.

Woud these be good choices to make scales out of from a moisture / water / durability perspective?
From what I've read and was told I think they'd be excellent choices
I have it on hand so I might as well go for it, just wondering if anyone has experience with these woods?

Not those, in particular. I've read the lingum is good, but not familiar with the other two.

But any oily wood is good. I've even used Teak wood. Soft in nature, but very good strength, and rot resistance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TristanLudloz1928273

Hi all,

I have some old wooden planes laying around that are damaged, so I figured I might as well re-use some of the wood
they're laminated plane soles and I have 3 different woods available to make scales out of:

- Lignum Vitae
- Ekki
- Holm Oak

These woods seem pretty good with water and moisture, but I haven't worked with them much.

Lignum Vitae and Ekki seem to do specially good.

Woud these be good choices to make scales out of from a moisture / water / durability perspective?
From what I've read and was told I think they'd be excellent choices
I have it on hand so I might as well go for it, just wondering if anyone has experience with these woods?

---

For just about everything related to wood, use the online wood database

https://www.wood-database.com/

I do know that Lignum Vitae was used for lawn bowling balls.
Primarily propeller shaft bearings for ships and submarines. Endangered or gone now?

Those plane parts may surprise at their worth?


Bog oak fashioned by outback are nice. Ultimate natural wood.
Already been wet! Good grippage and feel.
Impervious, I think..
Attachment 355606

Never worked with any of those but I believe holm oak is similar to a live oak which I have worked with. The heart in particular is very, very hard and dense. It resists water quite well. I coated it with gunstock wax. It is hard to work with though because of how hard it is.

This Christensen is scaled with live oak scales I made. The wood is quite attractive. That is its natural color.
Attachment 355607
Attachment 355608

You might want to look into some of the RC plane forums.

I bet someone is looking for some of those pieces. I've been told the build plans/blue prints for planes can be worth a mint

I think you have the wrong type of plane.

I think Primus used Lignum Vitae for plane soles.
They are worth a lot of money as a plane not so much as scales.