Stringer material

is redwood a difficult wood to work with? if so, is there an easier wood to use that is as dark? I’ve only done basswood stringers. I’m looking at getting a 9’9"W to make a 9’6" noserider with a 1/8" redwood + 3/4"bass + 1/8" redwood t-band. anyone used the 9’9"W yet? comments? thanks JR

is redwood a difficult wood to work with? if so, is there an easier wood > to use that is as dark? I’ve only done basswood stringers.>>> I’m looking at getting a 9’9"W to make a 9’6" noserider with a > 1/8" redwood + 3/4"bass + 1/8" redwood t-band.>>> anyone used the 9’9"W yet? comments?>>> thanks>>> JR The quality of redwood ain’t what it used to be. Personally if you want the darker color and something that looks nice. I think cedar is a better choice. Basewood is the strongest though. Mahalo, Rich

is redwood a difficult wood to work with? if so, is there an easier wood > to use that is as dark? I’ve only done basswood stringers.>>> I’m looking at getting a 9’9"W to make a 9’6" noserider with a > 1/8" redwood + 3/4"bass + 1/8" redwood t-band.>>> anyone used the 9’9"W yet? comments?>>> thanks>>> JR JR, Redwood and Western Cedar are very easy to work with, but don’t go for the 3/4" Bass, that much wood will for sure have many switch ups in the grain and kick your ass! Go with 3/16" or 1/4" dark woods and a balsa center stick, much lighter and easier to manage.

sounds good, not to keen on an ass whipin’. balsa and cedar’s the go. thanks

i love the 9’9 w austin

is redwood a difficult wood to work with? if so, is there an easier wood > to use that is as dark? I’ve only done basswood stringers.>>> I’m looking at getting a 9’9"W to make a 9’6" noserider with a > 1/8" redwood + 3/4"bass + 1/8" redwood t-band.>>> anyone used the 9’9"W yet? comments?>>> thanks>>> JR If you have an easily obtainable wood that satisfies the strength and tooling characteristics you desire, but not the color, then use aniline dyes as commonly used in lutherie: http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodbasics/vendors/mcfeely/classes/anilinedyes.htm http://www.valleytradarchery.com/tech.htm http://www.flash.net/~guitars/dyes.html http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/PLaniline.html

I did an 11’1" for a customer with a timber from Papua New Guinea(at least that’s where they told me it was from) called purple heart 3/4" stringer and a 1 1/2" wide tail block,great looking timber right from the centre of the tree.HARD AS HELL…but it did look great all polished up with a deep purple to almost burgundy colour throughout.

Hey, I have a few rippings of that stuff around here from when I was a sawer many years ago. Purple-heart and iron-heart are about the most dense, hard (extremely heavy) & rot resistant woods in the world. They are both very brittle however. The sandings for purple heart are somewhat toxic as well. It would be a great choice for the trailing edge of long board tail block but hardly IMHO a wise choice for a stringer as It simply won’t withstand much twisting or flexing. It lend its very rigid nature to the board. Research and development continues, Mahalo, Rich