I how it was OK for the cheap skate in me to make my tent poles from Apitong
I just happened to have a few pieces 1 1/2" thick and figured it would be good. I ripped them square then made them octagonal ;D ;D I like that word 8)
Let's see em.
Ned
Apitong ?? what kinda wood is this ????????
Its an Asian hardwood used extensively to floor flat bed trailers
very tough and rot resistant
Its the only hardwood I have around that is in large enough pieces
If you are getting your wood from old semi trailers make sure you go over it good with a metal detector. I cant tell you how many nails I have seen broken off and pounded down into the floor when I was a truck driver. Just a word of cation for your safety and any one else that may be in the shop with you.
This is new wood just had it around for 15 years or so
Jerry, I bought many a truck load of Apitong when I was working for Lufkin Trailers. I hope you were using Carbide saw blades. :) Apitong is better known as Keruing. We started out with 8/4 S4S. Man did that make a trailer heavy, but you never had to replace the floor. :) We ended up using 6/4 S2S without any problems.
We used high speed air drills to drill the holes for the flooring screws. Every now and then a dull drill bit would get so hot going through the Apitong, when it hit the crossbearer the drill tip would flatten out like the head of a nail.