Another iroko question

[film842]

I'm wondering if there is any reason that I should not join okuome marine ply with iroko (using SS fasteners and epoxy)

I'm thinking of building my stem from iroko. The planks that would join with it are okuome marine.

Any opinions appreciated.

[jonboy]

I think Iroko is slightly 'greasy'. bit like teak,.. I haven't had a lot of success with water based adhesives but epoxy or synthetics work if you really key up the mating surfaces... cut about 30mm out of a knackered blued tooth ever-sharp type saw blade and drag it over the surfaces, swab down well with a water miscible diluent like ethanol, methanol, good old methylated spirit, cellulose thinners, but not rectified paraffin/ turps/ white spirit, and it should be ok

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Epoxy works for me - and Sikaflex sticks to the stuff like b++++++y!

It's about the best boatbuilding timber around, short of teak, if you can live with the weight and get used to its "little ways", like warping off the saw, being tricky to plane, etc.

[Thorne]

Your location? If in the US you may want to consider using one of the epoxies created for use on oily and acidic woods like teak, iroko, etc. Smith & Co has one, and some other epoxy manufacturers have made similar products. I haven't tried any so can't speak from experience.

http://www.glueoakandteak.com/

[peter radclyffe]

Your location? If in the US you may want to consider using one of the epoxies created for use on oily and acidic woods like teak, iroko, etc. Smith & Co has one, and some other epoxy manufacturers have made similar products. I haven't tried any so can't speak from experience.

http://www.glueoakandteak.com/

west is fine for gluing iroko, be careful when cutting wide fresh boards, they may split 30feet, cramp the ends before & during cutting, iroko is an animal of a wood, the john mackenroe of woods, full of tension, inflexible, trouble, awkward, cheap, but durable, if it bangs up against a jetty, it will start an argument about the time of day, you have to put it in a straitjacket to steam it or it will crack & splinter, when i joined hinks, the last big trawler yard in england, there was a guy walking around with a broken arm, he told me he was walking past an iroko plank steamed in place but not fastened, the14 inch g cramp holding the plank broke, the plank flew out & broke his arm, its the poorest cousin of teak & about a 1/6 the price, blah, blah

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

What an inspired description! Perfect!

[PeterSibley]

west is fine for gluing iroko, be careful when cutting wide fresh boards, they may split 30feet, cramp the ends before & during cutting, iroko is an animal of a wood, the john mackenroe of woods, full of tension, inflexible, trouble, awkward, cheap, but durable, if it bangs up against a jetty, it will start an argument about the time of day, you have to put it in a straitjacket to steam it or it will crack & splinter, when i joined hinks, the last big trawler yard in england, there was a guy walking around with a broken arm, he told me he was walking past an iroko plank steamed in place but not fastened, the14 inch g cramp holding the plank broke, the plank flew out & broke his arm, its the poorest cousin of teak & about a 1/6 the price, blah, blah

I could name a few Australian hardwoods that might compete !

A lovely description !

[film842]

This particular piece of 2 x8 iroko has been resting in my shed for four years now and I've just decided that it's time for it to meet it's rightful destiny. It's destiny is shaped very much like the stem on my new build.

On the other hand after reading this thread, it's clear that I'll first need to take on the warrior attitude and prepare myself mentally and physically to deal with it.

But, hey, it's just wood...isn't it? I'm off to gird my loins.