Timber
Timber Selection
Selection
of the timber plays a large part in producing quality
masts. To
minimise wastage a very careful eye is needed to spot any stresses or
defects before the wood is cut into. A tree that has been exposed to a
prevailing wind, or has grown on the side of a hill, will grow stronger
on one side than the other, and the result will be a concentration of
hard 'compression'. When the tree is felled, these uneven stresses are
locked in, sometimes released during the drying process, when the log
may settle. If this compression is used, a finished mast will not be in
balance and may develop a 'set', sometimes within days, other times
after a couple of months' use. Once a suitable piece of wood is
selected, it is taken to size on the saw, allowing for planing and
splitting.
Generally,
most masts up to 19' are two pieces laminated, with a single glue line
running fore and aft. 20' to 34' masts however, require a scarf to
achieve the length and therefore four pieces of wood are used in total.
Masts over and above 34' require careful planning and consideration due
to the complexity of their design.
