The Ford Barn

TagMan · 09-08-2015, 06:58 PM

I need to replace the wood in the roof soft-top opening on my '36 3W and also the wood stiffeners under the trunk and rear floor pans, but I can't tell what kind of wood that the ones I removed is. I'm not even sure if was replaced previously and, if so, was the correct wood used.

Can anyone tell me what types of wood were used for those applications ?

Thanks,
-Bob

Tony, NY · 09-08-2015, 07:30 PM

Oak, Ash or Maple.

waterboychuck · 09-08-2015, 07:35 PM

Any hard wood will do. Tony is correct.

redmodelt · 09-08-2015, 07:47 PM

Ash

Probably

Matt in Alameda · 09-08-2015, 07:59 PM

If you use oak, use white oak NOT red oak. White oak is used in boats as it has a closed pore structure and lasts a lot longer. Hopefully your wood would never get wet, but the white will also resist high humidity much better. Ash is a great wood to use...maple can sometimes warp. Good luck with your project....Matt in Alameda

Drbrown · 09-08-2015, 08:44 PM

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Matt is absolutly right about using white oak and avoiding common red oak. It may be a little hard to find. Depends where you live. I had to go to a lumber mill in a remote area to find it. Locust is also great but hard to find and hard to work with.

Lawson Cox · 09-08-2015, 10:21 PM

Didn't Henry use Basswood a lot as well?

DavidG · 09-08-2015, 10:25 PM

Basswood was used primarily for slats in station wagon roofs.

TagMan · 09-09-2015, 08:15 AM

Thanks for all the feedback.

I guess then, it's fair to say that Henry used a variety of hardwoods, whatever was available and wasn't locked in to using any one specific wood, as long as the wood(s) used were suitable for the application? Would that be correct?

redmodelt · 09-09-2015, 10:28 AM

Henry had forest to provide lumber for the cars, so no Ford didn't use just what ever. People had been building bodies out of wood for a very long time and knew the best woods to use. They wanted a wood that was strong, light, easy to work, flexible, rot resistant and didn't need to pre drill all the nail holes. Woods like Ash seem to fit the need, there may be others. Oak? Maple might be too hard.

totto · 09-09-2015, 10:22 PM

When restoring my 1934 pickup, I had to replace the wood underneath the metal floor of my pickup bed. The wood was maple, and a few pieces were "bird's eye" maple. So maple was a wood used.

09-08-2015, 06:58 PM	#1
TagMan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Alvaton, Kentucky, USA Posts: 955	Question About Structural Wood I need to replace the wood in the roof soft-top opening on my '36 3W and also the wood stiffeners under the trunk and rear floor pans, but I can't tell what kind of wood that the ones I removed is. I'm not even sure if was replaced previously and, if so, was the correct wood used. Can anyone tell me what types of wood were used for those applications ? Thanks, -Bob

09-08-2015, 07:30 PM	#2
Tony, NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Capital of Corruption , NY Posts: 811	Re: Question About Structural Wood Oak, Ash or Maple.

09-08-2015, 07:35 PM	#3
waterboychuck Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nine Mile Falls,WA Posts: 900	Re: Question About Structural Wood Any hard wood will do. Tony is correct. __________________ The sign of a good craftsman is how well they cover up their mistakes.

09-08-2015, 07:47 PM	#4
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,342	Re: Question About Structural Wood Ash Probably

09-08-2015, 07:59 PM	#5
Matt in Alameda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alameda, California Posts: 335	Re: Question About Structural Wood If you use oak, use white oak NOT red oak. White oak is used in boats as it has a closed pore structure and lasts a lot longer. Hopefully your wood would never get wet, but the white will also resist high humidity much better. Ash is a great wood to use...maple can sometimes warp. Good luck with your project....Matt in Alameda

09-08-2015, 08:44 PM	#6
Drbrown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Glens Falls NY Posts: 1,267	Re: Question About Structural Wood Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Matt is absolutly right about using white oak and avoiding common red oak. It may be a little hard to find. Depends where you live. I had to go to a lumber mill in a remote area to find it. Locust is also great but hard to find and hard to work with.

09-08-2015, 10:21 PM	#7
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Question About Structural Wood Didn't Henry use Basswood a lot as well? __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

09-08-2015, 10:25 PM	#8
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Question About Structural Wood Basswood was used primarily for slats in station wagon roofs.

09-09-2015, 08:15 AM	#9
TagMan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Alvaton, Kentucky, USA Posts: 955	Re: Question About Structural Wood Thanks for all the feedback. I guess then, it's fair to say that Henry used a variety of hardwoods, whatever was available and wasn't locked in to using any one specific wood, as long as the wood(s) used were suitable for the application? Would that be correct?

09-09-2015, 10:28 AM	#10
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,342	Re: Question About Structural Wood Henry had forest to provide lumber for the cars, so no Ford didn't use just what ever. People had been building bodies out of wood for a very long time and knew the best woods to use. They wanted a wood that was strong, light, easy to work, flexible, rot resistant and didn't need to pre drill all the nail holes. Woods like Ash seem to fit the need, there may be others. Oak? Maple might be too hard.

09-09-2015, 10:22 PM	#11
totto Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 222	Re: Question About Structural Wood When restoring my 1934 pickup, I had to replace the wood underneath the metal floor of my pickup bed. The wood was maple, and a few pieces were "bird's eye" maple. So maple was a wood used.