tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044455912868310519.post4195316013694562896..comments2023-10-22T18:57:47.705-06:00Comments on RandomThoughts on Triloboats, sailboats & Kung Fu: Mast Vertical Checking Question?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044455912868310519.post-11078564746728822772016-09-11T10:05:13.373-06:002016-09-11T10:05:13.373-06:00Dave, do you have a brand of House Oil that you re...Dave, do you have a brand of House Oil that you recommend? I admit I do like the look of varnished wood, but want something low maintenance as well. The folding masts will help compared with climbing Dennis Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525900170454935174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044455912868310519.post-12949605049377915232016-09-11T09:58:06.167-06:002016-09-11T09:58:06.167-06:00Hi Dennis,
Vertical checking doesn't present ...Hi Dennis,<br /><br />Vertical checking doesn't present a strength problem. The big spars on tall ships had cracks you slide your hands in. AK trollers use smaller diameter poles with bigger cracks than you've got now. We've gone with Beuhler and put 'em up green when necessary, usually with no coating. When the wood is sound, good grain and sized well, no problems.<br /><br />To slow checking, coat the ends with a thick glop (paint, sludge oil, anhydrous lanolin, etc)... so long as it is compatible with your finish. This slows loss of intercellular (vascular) moisture and allows wood time to adjust.<br /><br />The checks allow water to enter the interior. Two strategies: Leave them open to drain and air, or stop them with a filler.<br /><br />The filler problem is that the checks work with humidity and stress, so the fillers themselves open and let moisture in. Then it sometimes can't drain as well as if open, and rot in the interior can start up (serious problem).<br /><br />Our choice has been to leave the checks open. If we finish the mast (with hard drying house oil), we dribble it in, but drain it out, coating the inner check but not filling it. Then we watch for signs of rot at the outer edges.<br /><br />You may do better with fillers in your dryer climate... consider beeswax + pinetar and adjust viscosity with turpentine (about sticky earwax consistency). Run into checks hot, and once cool, topcoat mast with hard drying, UV resistant house oil (sometimes called 'log oil). <br /><br />Hope this helps!<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044455912868310519.post-241235539641567502016-09-10T21:34:03.440-06:002016-09-10T21:34:03.440-06:00I have seen many clothesline poles still standing ...I have seen many clothesline poles still standing after many years with such checking. I think that there may be some structural loss but likely not much. Caulk up the cracks with polyurethane (NP-1 maybe?) and paint them up is what I would do given your sailing grounds. But I would also get Dave and Anke to wade in on this. Lot's of experience there :-)Alan Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17633386901505182550noreply@blogger.com