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jonnny
New Member
United Kingdom
50 Posts |
 Posted - 21/08/2007 : 19:45:29
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hi am building a 4 foot axial flux machine been torn between wooden blades or some from tgl wind power in the states i started carving my blades out of dougles fir but will be making them 5 foot dia as i have low wind most of the time in my garden. I still cant see how in my case a badley made set of wooden blades will out perform a set of aluminium blades from tery at tlg wind power , so ive put an order in for a set of BOAST BUSTERS . any thoughts guys all best jonny
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super windy
Junior Member
217 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2007 : 21:03:48
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Hi mate
I know the blades that you are talking about, and from previous users of his stuff, they seem to be the business, the problem with wooden blades is the maintenance, and the movement that you might get with the wood, there is no guarantee with wood that they aren't going to crack, split or more important in our case warp and throw the balance way out, I know about wood and I love the stuff, I'm a carpenter and joiner by trade, and I can see the advantages of using wood, by I also know first hand what happens to wood with the different seasons of the year, and while it dries or gets wet.
Anyway I think that the guy knows his stuff, and he has good customer feedback from his stuff,.
Just let us know how they perform, and maybe place a pic for us to see.
cheerio
super windy |
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BushWhacker
Junior Member
Canada
339 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2007 : 03:10:56
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Jonnny,
I have been reading the the best material for wood blades is red cedar, followed by white fir or spruce ( I really don't recall which breed of tree, fir or spruce). There are loads of instructions on the net, and I like the ones at www.otherpower.com . Have fun as I tried to dig it up for you without success. They say maintenance consists of painting with linseed oil yearly. I'd call that pretty darn reasonable.
Disclosure... I don't have a set of wooden blades, I'm not building a set in the near future, and have never made a set. I may one day down the road.
I'm just trying to save you some searching Jonnny.
Cheers!
BW
Think about how stupid the average person is; now realize half of them are dumber than that.
- George Carlin |
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super windy
Junior Member
217 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2007 : 23:34:01
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You are right bushwacker, red cedar would be the ideal blade material if using wood, it's light it has good strenght properties, good grain, and the most important factor it contains natural oils within the wood, which is great for preventing water penetration in the fibres of the wood, same as teak, malau, and to a certain degree oak.
That is why they use cedar shingles on roofs, it lasts at least 25 years without much maintenance it just goes to a grey colour, also the smell while cutting it is quite nice, its a very distinct smell, they also used to make furniture out off cedar in the old days as aparently used to keep moths and other insects at bay.
In the u.k you would probably wouldn't find any cedar on the high street merchants, has due to the price isn't used much anymore,it's more of a specialist item, another good wood I suppose would be Douglas Fir, since the grain is very tight together is often mistaken for hardwood due to its apperance but it's actually softwood, it's used alot for windows nowdays that lasts longer than pine.
cheerio
Keep up the good work
Super Windy |
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BLADES
