Hemlock or Douglas Fir?

**blumpkinblake** · 07-03-2009 02:35 PM

Is Hemlock or Douglas Fir suitable for building a longboard up to 50" or so? I found a plywood company that makes the wood there, so I can get it for cheap. They said they only have 1/8" wood in hemlock or douglas fir. I was wondering if it would be strong enough if I glued them to maybe 3/8" and fiberglassed both sides.

Is this type of wood bad for building longboards?

I searched everywhere and no one really talks about it.

I can't find any place near Spanaway, WA that carries 1/8" wood, and this is the first place, but it's not even the right kind. Right now I have to make my boards out of 1/2" BB or Maple and I want to add some camber and concave to my boards.

**schmoose** · 07-03-2009 02:54 PM

I would not recomend using those woods for a board, they are not hardwoods.

longboards are typically made from Baltic Birch (hardwood), Maple (hardwood) and Bamboo (tropical hardwood).

all of these woods are known for being verry strong. Douglas fir is used for cheap plywood and 2x4's for construction and is of medium density, I dont know much about hemlock, but I think it has properties much like Douglas fir. both of these would not be ideal for longboard building.

again I dont know much about Hemlock but you might want to play it safe and stick with Baltic Birch, Maple and Bamboo, because those are that three most widely used for longboard shaping.

**blumpkinblake** · 07-03-2009 02:57 PM

Okay, thanks for the feedback, I will continue on my search for 1/8" bb and maple.

**SoloRider** · 07-03-2009 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by blumpkinblake

Okay, thanks for the feedback, I will continue on my search for 1/8" bb and maple.

You might need to make a trip North. I know there's a Dunn lumber somewhere close to Tacoma and they carry bb for sure, maybe not at that store though. If you make it all the way up into Seattle, Crosscut Hardwoods will get you set up. They've got everything you'd ever need and then some.

**TwinTown Skater** · 07-03-2009 03:49 PM

The critical issue is the actual plys in the plywood. What you want is quality wood in each layer

Much of the builder grade stuff is nice on the outside but the middle layers are not structurally sound, so you go through the effort of building, and then it cracks after a short while.

**enemy combatant** · 07-03-2009 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by schmoose

longboards are typically made from Baltic Birch (hardwood), Maple (hardwood) and Bamboo (tropical hardwood).

Bamboo is NOT a tropical hardwood. It's a grass. Mahogany, Ebony, Teak, Cocobolo etc. are tropical hardwoods.

Mass, Weight, Density or Specific Gravity of Wood

Density and Gravity

**blumpkinblake** · 07-03-2009 06:16 PM

Well, since I'm most likely going to have to travel to get some wood, might as well get bamboo. I heard bamboo grows quick and it should be cheap, except, companies mark the price up a lot. I used google maps to find the places that I could get wood. Rainier Veneer doesn't sell anything, and the other stores just import the wood from other stores :/ Even when they do import them, they only get 1/4"

Also, they have 1/4" normal birch at home depot. There are 3 plys and the middle is probably some cheap filler would. If I were to buy that, would it hold up being that 2/3 is the good wood, and only the middle is bad?

**SoloRider** · 07-03-2009 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by blumpkinblake

Well, since I'm most likely going to have to travel to get some wood, might as well get bamboo. I heard bamboo grows quick and it should be cheap, except, companies mark the price up a lot. I used google maps to find the places that I could get wood. Rainier Veneer doesn't sell anything, and the other stores just import the wood from other stores :/ Even when they do import them, they only get 1/4"

Also, they have 1/4" normal birch at home depot. There are 3 plys and the middle is probably some cheap filler would. If I were to buy that, would it hold up being that 2/3 is the good wood, and only the middle is bad?

Bamboo hardwoods on 4th in Seattle is going to be your best bamboo source. That's where I get the 1/8" veneers that I build with.

Home Depot birch is going to be a waste of your money, don't even bother with it.

**blumpkinblake** · 07-03-2009 06:36 PM

Okay, I was looking at the Dunn lumber, and they have many different types of wood. I was looking at the Birch Ply Baltic 5' x 5' x 1/4" (6mm) Rotary- All Birch Veneer Core, and the Maple Ply Shop 4'x 8'x 3/16." From what I understand, Veneer core is exactly what I want because it doesn't have some cheap particle board in the middle. It has the BB (I think). Also, for the maple, I was wondering, will 3/16 be good for adding camber and concave? I don't want it to be too thick, I'm gonna be pressing two together so it will be 3/8". But what is maple ply shop? There isn't anything about veneer core. What's good about dunn lumber is that it's waayyyyy cheaper than what we've been paying so far for wood ($100 for 4'x8' maple, $50 for 5'x5' BB)

I just want to know if 1/4 or less will be good for pressing.

**schmoose** · 07-03-2009 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by enemy combatant

Bamboo is NOT a tropical hardwood. It's a grass. Mahogany, Ebony, Teak, Cocobolo etc. are tropical hardwoods.

oh yes it is a grass. my bad, but never the less, it is still widely used for longboards.

ideal for pressing boards is 1/8" plys. 3/16" will also work, the are 1/16" thicker than an 1/8" ply.

it is also possible with 1/4", but, the thinner the ply, usually, the easier it will bent to the shape you desire.

NEVER BUY HOME DEPOT PLYWOOD, it isn't good for boards, it is too weak.

**Dimm** · 07-03-2009 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by blumpkinblake

Is Hemlock or Douglas Fir suitable for building a longboard up to 50" or so? I found a plywood company that makes the wood there, so I can get it for cheap. They said they only have 1/8" wood in hemlock or douglas fir. I was wondering if it would be strong enough if I glued them to maybe 3/8" and fiberglassed both sides.

Is this type of wood bad for building longboards?

I searched everywhere and no one really talks about it.

I can't find any place near Spanaway, WA that carries 1/8" wood, and this is the first place, but it's not even the right kind. Right now I have to make my boards out of 1/2" BB or Maple and I want to add some camber and concave to my boards.

I actually saw a guy who made a board out of douglas fir and it was interesting... he made it 1" thick but it was lighter than my 1/2" BB board which I had at the time (crazy). But, anyways, yeah I would not recommend building with wood from home depot.

Actually, I was looking for the density of BB and I just found it, cause it was not listed in any of those tables enemy combatant posted.

So here it is: 647kg/m^3 (kilogram per meter cubed)

compared to hard maple which is about 750. But different sources say different things... it's hard to get a real answer online. I have a block at home which I could measure up and weigh as a little experiment but I have no suitable scale.