Message #538

Date: Jun 30 2000 15:28:02 EDT
From: RSONDOG@aol.com
Subject: Gear legs, lumber,etc.

Okay Folks:

I've taken the plunge: picked up three sheets of marine grade okoume ply from
Harbor Sales yesterday (good looking stuff; but Harbor Sales no longer sells
aircraft ply) and placed my spruce order with Wicks. All told I've bought
enough to do the tail feathers and start the fuse.
Went to my EAA chapter meeting last night and found out I'm the only one
building a wood airplane. Everyone else is into composites or metal. They gave
me a round of applause. I'm not sure if it was pity or encouragement! The guys
at work are having a never-ending field day with my new project.

Now for business: I am having trouble locating 1/4" 
stock for the landing gear vees at a reasonable price. So far I've priced A/C
grade spruce for about $170, and fir or cedar at about $260-$360. I can get
great tulip 
poplar all day for a pittance (roughly 1/10 of those prices) but I'm assuming
it is too "hard" for the vees. Since they're laminated, what about fir or
spruce ply? Maybe 4 layers of 1/4" spruce ply laminated together??? Or is this
too weak?
Any ideas/advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim Hattwick