Tent Poles

[Chaffa Hosa]

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  I like that word  8)

[Dryball]

Let's see em.

Ned

[FrankG]

Apitong ?? what kinda wood is this ??

[Chaffa Hosa]

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

[Steven9851]

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.

[Chaffa Hosa]

This is new wood just had it around for 15 years or so

[Ironwood]

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.