Cheapest softwood

taki · 10 Aug 2016

Hi all. I'm new to this and know nothing

I'm looking for some information on softwoods.

I need to find a softwood which is both as cheap as possible and as light as possible in colour.
It is going to be made into 10cm diameter cylinders.
It would be useful if it doesn't split.
It will have a stainless steel thread inserted into one end.

What options do I have?

nev · 10 Aug 2016

A few more details would help.

How much, how long, How many?
Who's making the cylinders?
Do they need to be exactly 10cm dia?
Will there be any (pull) strain on the insert?

Short answer:
The cheapest will probably be construction grade timber, whitewood or redwood, available from a local Joinery or larger timber merchant. PSE (Planed Square Edge) is available to 100mm x100mm BUT that is the size BEFORE planing so it will be approx 95x95mm for example.. https://www.jastimber.co.uk/4x4-pse-red ... x100mm-par

taki · 10 Aug 2016

Thanks for that.

Lengths: 60cm, 80cm
Quantity: 5 for prototyping, hundreds or thousands eventually I would imagine
I will have to find a local tradesman to make the cylinders, unless I can find someone online to do it for me then post them.
10cm is ideal but it could be -0.5cm or +1cm.
The insert will need to support an occasional mass of maximum 5kg.

marcros · 10 Aug 2016

i think that you will need to find somebody local- 5 pieces at 800mm long are going to be heavy. I wouldn't worry about the colour or the timber at this stage- prototype it, see whether there is interest and refine it from there.

It is a simple enough turning job. I have no idea where Ilson is, and I think that my max lathe capacity is 650mm or so.

What you could do is to get a 4" round fence post, cut to length, insert your insert and sand it up a bit. You may need to fill any splits with filler. That would give you an minimum viable product, in Lean Startup terms.

Good luck with the venture, but take it in small steps.