Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Christian Bobka"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Alternate WoodsMy son gave me a copy of "Understanding Wood" by R. Bruce Hoadley. Great book!I'm going to use Douglas Fir too: there is a waiting line for Spruce. And I got enough wood for the fuselage and tail feathers for $125.00. Get some VG KD DF (Vertical Grain, Kiln Dried, Douglas Fir). I found that I should never buy more than one plank at a time, and that I should try to use different lumberyards. Kiln Dried means less than 19% moisture to the lumberyard - for our use we really should have around 12%, but once the wood is cut it dries faster. I tried 2x2s, 2x4s, and 2x6s, and 2x4s work out the best(cheapest). Mr Pietenpol cut his parts from 2x4s. Try for 10 to 15 growth rings per inch - more than this and you're dealing with pith wood. My plan is to laminate the lower longerons with three slices 1/3" thick.The edge grain requirement is specifically for spars. It doesn't matter which way the rings are oriented with respect to the 1x1 longerons. But they must lay the same way when when they are glued together for maximum strength. My wood has been cut for a little over a week now, and I'm just a little bit surprised at the amount of shrinkage already.Mr Pietenpol laminated his spars from 3/4 by 3/4 strips, according to the constuction manual. That is what I am going to do, too. Flat Grain DF is cheaper than VG DF, and can be turned properly when laying up the spars.I was interested in the interest in the Pou de Ciel: I looked at this too, before deciding on the Piet. I wonder how many others got down to this choice also?________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: clif

Original Posted By: Kirk & Laura Huizenga

Original Posted By: Fisherman Caye
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Alternate WoodsThanks for the responses. I've been reading the EAA publications on wood, and Hoadley's book on Understanding Wood.I take it that most people make the trailing edges of the empennage fatter than shown on the plans, since if you rabbetted 3/16" deep, there wouldn't be much material left, and I don't think that a person would want to taper the 3/16" strips so much right at the edge like that.I'm going to keep the 5/8" thickness and rout a groove for a 1/4" plywood spline which the strips will fasten to, permitting a nicely faired trailing edge.________________________________________________________________________________Date: 8 Feb 2002 05:44:59 -0800

Original Posted By: Dmott9(at)aol.com
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Alternate WoodsAlternate Woods:Im really pleased with my choice of Douglas Fir for the basic structure. After you8 get used to the smell(it isnt pine!), and the stiffness, its really quite pleasant to work with.Ive done the Horizontal Stabilizer and have gotten into the two elevators. There I had a little problem. I wanted to use the 5/8 dimension, but didnt want to narrow the ribs, as necessary if the 1/2 dimension is used. I tried three times to turn out blanks, using a 1/4 marine plywood spline. Finally, in disgust, I cut a 1 1/4 w plywood and laminated two 3/4 wide 3/16 thick to the plywood backbone. This turned out absolutely beautiful, straight and strong, and Im on my way again.T-88 is great to work with. I warmed it up in the microwave so I could spread it with a brush, and Ill certainly do this with the bottom longerons and the spars, too.I have quite a bit of the metal work done now, too. ________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Isablcorky(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Alternate WoodsIn a message dated 3/2/02 7:25:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, ANNCARLEK(at)aol.com writes:>I've just been looking at Lowe's They have Douglas Fir in 1x6x6 and 1x6x8 width/lengths. With a good eye for straight grain and no knots, think there could be some good source of wood there. They also have Poplar. This is a hardwood though isn't it ?Where are you getting your douglas fir and how much did you start with ? -dennis the menace________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Jim Sury
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: What are sources for Ford Model A enginesPieters,I have a Model A block w/crank installed. Don't know the mics. Also 3 extra cranks and a cam w/ gear. Four connecting rods mounted on a crank. It would be a good start. Was to be my power until I got this A-65. Got it from an A Model buddy here in town. He told me I could have it for $150. I've had it in my garage for two years and haven't paid him yet. If any of you want it, its here in NW La. 186 East of Dallas, 330 NW of Nawlins, 666 SSW of Mattoon, Ill, 465 W of Birmingham, 1436 E of San DiegoCorky in La with an idle A Model engine potential________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 03 Mar 2002 09:04:04 -0600

Original Posted By: Fisherman Caye

Original Posted By: "Kent Hallsten"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Dammits-serious questionPieters,On the wedges questions. Why don't one just measure your planned spar cavity in you ribs, apply this to your saw, joiner and planer when you dress your spars and you do several things. Eliminate that tacky wedging, have a perfect fit for rib and spar plus a stronger spar. Can't understand that pure rectangle spar. Maybe they didn't have adjustable table saws or joiners up nawth in '29.Corky in the South where he made his spars with an angle________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Alternate WoodsDate: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 13:32:06 -0500

Original Posted By: catdesigns(at)juno.com
Kent,Kim makes a video tape of Brodhead each year, they are not as glossy as MikeCuy's. They are Piets and other planes landing and taking off and somepeople and some Piets just sitting there and close up's to show technicalstuff like fittings and such. They are great for inspiration to get back towork on the Piet and also to remember your trip to Brodhead. They arerecommended.I always give Kim the money the first time I see him each year at the flyin,but I believe he would send you one if you sent him the money. They rangefrom $10. to $20. this year it was $10.If you have been to Brodhead for several years Kim is guy who came in theCub yellow GN1 and gave many many rides each year from about 1993 to 1999.This year his plane was home needing covering and engine work. Kim Allen Stricker P O bx 6 Jackson MO 63755SkipAtlanta What is this tape? Something available for purchase?Kent HallstenOklahoma City________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 21:00:35 GMTSubject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Alternate Woods

Original Posted By: catdesigns(at)juno.com
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Alternate Woods

Original Posted By: "Steve Eldredge"

Original Posted By: Waytogopiet(at)aol.com
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Alternate WoodsI just cut all the little struts and braces for the wing ribs, enough for 30 ribs. These were all out of very nice straight-grained Douglas Fir. Sure are a lot of pieces! The weight of them all, less capstrips, is 4.5 lbs. This means to me that one should not spend a lot of effort trying to reduce this weight by selecting a less desirable wood, such as red cedar from Home Depot, and instead, work on those areas with more promise. Carl@Compton________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Paul Schermerhorn
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: another windshield QIn a message dated 2/24/2003 2:09:18 PM Central Standard Time, rambog(at)erols.com writes:> I have also> HEARD, so it may not be true, that heating Lexan to form it cooks some type> of solvents out of it, making it brittle. Anyone else heard this?> Gene.. I had some experience with plastics molding of bottles and we recycled waste material. The reheating process cooks out the plastcizer that is needed to avoid brittleness. Don Hicks________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 18:56:13 -0800 (PST)

Original Posted By: Isablcorky(at)aol.com
Why would one want to laminate the lower longerons? Can anyine tell me what the longest 1x1 longeron is in the long version of the Piet?FOund some wonderful flat grain 18 ring/inch T&G Doug Fir Flooring Looks like I could get three 1x1 out of each but they are only 12'Matt Subject: Alternate Woods My son gave me a copy of "Understanding Wood" by R. Bruce Hoadley. Great book! I'm going to use Douglas Fir too: there is a waiting line for Spruce. And Igot enough wood for the fuselage and tail feathers for $125.00. Get some VGKD DF (Vertical Grain, Kiln Dried, Douglas Fir). I found that I should neverbuy more than one plank at a time, and that I should try to use differentlumberyards. Kiln Dried means less than 19% moisture to the lumberyard - forour use we really should have around 12%, but once the wood is cut it driesfaster. I tried 2x2s, 2x4s, and 2x6s, and 2x4s work out the best(cheapest).Mr Pietenpol cut his parts from 2x4s. Try for 10 to 15 growth rings per inch - more than this and you're dealing with pith wood. My plan is to laminatethe lower longerons with three slices 1/3" thick. The edge grain requirement is specifically for spars. It doesn't matter whichway the rings are oriented with respect to the 1x1 longerons. But they mustlay the same way when when they are glued together for maximum strength. Mywood has been cut for a little over a week now, and I'm just a little bitsurprised at the amount of shrinkage already. Mr Pietenpol laminated his spars from 3/4 by 3/4 strips, according to theconstuction manual. That is what I am going to do, too. Flat Grain DF ischeaper than VG DF, and can be turned properly when laying up the spars. I was interested in the interest in the Pou de Ciel: I looked at this too,before deciding on the Piet. I wonder how many others got down to this choicealso? End Msg: #69________________________________________________________________________________