Which Wood Would You Use?

Looks beautiful!
I built side rails for my pickup and used white oak for the slats.
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Funny, never thought about making them match.
 
Great looking truck.
I'm sure whatever you use will look good.
I just wanted to add that if Henry had used Ipe, it would still be as good as new today. How many woods can say that they are fire rated, or they will not float?
 
DUNN1929 said:
Great looking truck.
I'm sure whatever you use will look good.
I just wanted to add that if Henry had used Ipe, it would still be as good as new today. How many woods can say that they are fire rated, or they will not float?
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True. But it does not grow in Northern Michigan...


:D
 
Notwithstanding anything the MAFCA "technical director" may say, oak was never used for truck beds, it is unstable in weather and will swell and cup if exposed for a few years. Red oak is the cheapest and worst performing, is full of splinters and not very attractive; use it for fence posts. Yellow pine, ash or maple are your best choices if you want originality and performance. Be sure to paint it if you want to do it right.
 
1wonton said:
Notwithstanding anything the MAFCA "technical director" may say, oak was never used for truck beds, it is unstable in weather and will swell and cup if exposed for a few years. Red oak is the cheapest and worst performing, is full of splinters and not very attractive; use it for fence posts. Yellow pine, ash or maple are your best choices if you want originality and performance. Be sure to paint it if you want to do it right.
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If oak was never used for truck beds what was used?

Chet
 
1wonton said:
Notwithstanding anything the MAFCA "technical director" may say, oak was never used for truck beds, it is unstable in weather and will swell and cup if exposed for a few years. Red oak is the cheapest and worst performing, is full of splinters and not very attractive; use it for fence posts. Yellow pine, ash or maple are your best choices if you want originality and performance. Be sure to paint it if you want to do it right.
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If oak was never used for truck beds what was used?

Chet
 
Growley bear said:
If oak was never used for truck beds what was used?

Chet
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I looked through the Restoration Guidelines last night for an answer to this :
I found where it said all interior wood was ash. And another reference that said the truck bed wood was painted...but not a reference to material.
It should be clear as mud now. :)
 
I believe (based on observations of tens of trucks) White Pine was predominate. Ford had lumber mills in upper Michigan at the time. If truth be known I suspect ash and hard maple were also used as it was available.
 
Re: Which Wood Would You Use? Update

Well, I finished putting new wood in the bed of the pickup. Thought I'd share the result and thank you all for your help.
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In "The Ford Model A As Henry Built It" it states the wood could have
been maple, birch, sound oak, beech, or longleaf southern pine.

Bob
 
I use Ash. Trucks were for working, not looking at. Anyway, I thought Henry painted the boards. Those polished finishes will be beat up the first time you throw a set of tire chains in the back.
 
Bruce said:
I use Ash. Trucks were for working, not looking at. Anyway, I thought Henry painted the boards. Those polished finishes will be beat up the first time you throw a set of tire chains in the back.
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I too used ash. Just 'cause I'd never made anything from ash before.

You're right. My son took one look and said, "Oh no. Now what are you going to do next time you need to haul something?"

The grain on the wood looked so nice that just wanted to see what it would look like. I guess, if it gets real scuffed up in the next couple of years, I'll just sand it down and paint it.
 
Sailboat owner here. Don't use Spar Varnish, use CETOL. Don't ask me how I know, but that crap Spar Varnish can only be sanded and sanded and sanded OFF. Never again. Still have half a quart somewhere here in Fairfield, Virginia, FREE for pickup only.

Ted
 
Well I must confess I used northern Mich Ash. It might not be right but I like it.
 

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