Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:41 pm
Original Posted By: George Abernathy
Making things "pretty" usually doesn't add to the cost, but it usually does takemore time (and patience).As for good wood being expensive, keep in mind that everything is relative. Inthe overall scheme of things, the cost of wood will not be one of the biggestcost items in the finished aircraft. If you will be renting a hangar to houseyour finished aircraft, you'll most likely spend more on hangar rent in the firstyear than you will spend on all of the wood in the whole plane. Because Ienjoy doing woodworking, I purchased rough-sawn Sitka planks, and milled my owncomponent parts. My first plank was $8 per board foot, and was used to buildmy ribs and tail. I had to cut around a few areas that were sub-standard,and some of the wood became kindling. My second plank was much pricier, at $18per board foot, but the wood was PERFECT. 20 feet long, with grain running straightas an arrow for the entire length. The only waste was the thickness ofthe saw blade. If I had it to do over again, I would only buy the more expensivewood. The overall cost difference would only be maybe three hundred dollars.As is usually the case, you get what you pay for. Bill C.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:15:32 -0800 (PST)
Making things "pretty" usually doesn't add to the cost, but it usually does takemore time (and patience).As for good wood being expensive, keep in mind that everything is relative. Inthe overall scheme of things, the cost of wood will not be one of the biggestcost items in the finished aircraft. If you will be renting a hangar to houseyour finished aircraft, you'll most likely spend more on hangar rent in the firstyear than you will spend on all of the wood in the whole plane. Because Ienjoy doing woodworking, I purchased rough-sawn Sitka planks, and milled my owncomponent parts. My first plank was $8 per board foot, and was used to buildmy ribs and tail. I had to cut around a few areas that were sub-standard,and some of the wood became kindling. My second plank was much pricier, at $18per board foot, but the wood was PERFECT. 20 feet long, with grain running straightas an arrow for the entire length. The only waste was the thickness ofthe saw blade. If I had it to do over again, I would only buy the more expensivewood. The overall cost difference would only be maybe three hundred dollars.As is usually the case, you get what you pay for. Bill C.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:15:32 -0800 (PST)