Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

First Bedford · Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Darlington, Durham

Have 1952 K/O?? type Bedford to restore. Mechanicals no problem, metal bumping no problem. Building a dropside back using timber is a first for me. My brother can wield wood tools, any suggestions of type of wood to use both for the flooring and sides?

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22788 Location: UK

Keruing is often used on classic lorries, at least for the flat decking. It may also be used for the framework but I'm sure someone else could advise on that, ash also springs to mind.

R
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Peter_L · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

Keruing
A resinous, economic timber, Keruing does not machine easily, nor does it take finishes well,it is however, strong and durable, making Keruing a popular choice for vehicle bodies and agricultural applications.

We used to use Keruing for wooden vats. It will take stain OK, but paint can be troublesome as it never really bonds well to the wood.

Not the best for small intricate corners and joints but when tongue and gooved it makes a strong durable platform.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22788 Location: UK

The wood that's going in to the back of the Dodge, removed from an old Bedford army lorry, is Keruing. The joiner had a nightmare trying to plane off the old painted finish (it blunted his planer twice), but in the end came out nicely Smile

He then t&g'd it and its going in well.

RJ
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First Bedford · Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Darlington, Durham

Thanks for the replies. Suppose could do bottom with Keruing and stain. Sides will need thinking about re painting. Is Ask hard enough for sides?

First Bedford · Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Darlington, Durham

Meant Ash in previous mail

Nic Jarman · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject:

You could ask these people,
http://www.thorogood.co.uk/
I will pay them a visit soon.
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

Ghost · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 75

Rick @ Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:06 pm - “ash also springs to mind”.

Was the pun on the major quality of ash deliberate I wonder!

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22788 Location: UK

First Bedford · Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Darlington, Durham

Thanks Nick and Rick, quite shapely pieces of wood. Is it something that could be done in my unit or do you think it require a skilled craftsman to work in Ash?
Pete

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22788 Location: UK

Hard to say really, I know my limits so this was farmed out to a proper joiner, one who knew how to cut the curved pieces in relation to the direction of the grain etc for maximum strength and so on. With the wood not being cheap, it made sense to get it done correctly from the outset, rather than messing about. But again it comes down to what you're handy at!!

Rick
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First Bedford · Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Darlington, Durham

Thanks Rick, brother is handy with wood, will see if he is interested. Suppose there will be a dfference in building joiners and those working in fancier woods.
Pete

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

A friend did a body in Ash,and made a good job of it himself, he has a bandsaw, planer thicknesser and other realted tools.

I am pretty sure he steamed some of it too, as I dragged a big cylinder reciever out of the scrap yard with him, to fill with water, to be laid in a fire. Steam was then piped to a number of barrels, in which the ahs was in, then bent to shape.

All seemed to work quite well, no safety issues as the steam was under no pressure.

The one thing to bear in mind re cutting shaped sections is short grain, but you probably know about that.

Cheers

Dave

First Bedford · Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Darlington, Durham

Thanks Buzzy, don't know a lot about grain structures, know how to make a steam pipe though. Will have to read more about Ash.
Pete

Nic Jarman · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject:

There is a God and he loves me. 400 metres from work is Lavenham Joinery. I had a chat with the owner and his feeling is that as most of the wood I need is not for structural purposses then it's not too important, and he loves the Morris Very Happy

. I had a rumage through his scrap and came up with some Beech for most of the internals and a piece of oak which just looks nice ( I will find some use for it). He will plane the timber to the thickness I want and then I will shape it. I will be using some ash as it is good to steam and bend.
So find your local joinery business and go and have a chat.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush