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Subject: Re: Choosing wood species for laundry rack design

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Message Thread:

Choosing wood species for laundry rack design

7/25/08       
Greg Baka Member

As an addition to my current business I will be producing a new design of a wooden laundry drying rack. Estimated at 1000 per year to begin with. I will outsource the component fabrication and just assemble and package here - and market, the toughest job.

I need suggestions on the species of wood to use.

We HOPE to use a raw unfinished hard wood. Here are the parameters the wood must meet (in it's raw but sanded condition):

1) must not bleed color onto damp fabric hung on the rack.

2) must easily sand smooth enough to not snag on silky undies or pantyhose, and not become rough from being dampened.

3) must not warp excessively as it absorbs and releases moisture from the damp fabrics

4) needs to be a fairly stiff and strong wood

5) needs to be a wood that is commercially converted into long dowels. This is tougher than it sounds as the dowel manufacturers all seem to cover the same half dozen or so species. But some will do other woods if the stock is readily available.

I have done some research and have a few species possibilities. But I would like to hear your unbiased thoughts first. I'll share what I found and the end of the thread.

Thank You!

7/30/08       #2: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Leo

I would say hard maple. But I think you will find that without sealing the wood and putting it into a high humidity environment you are going to be asking for problems. Plus you are putting damp articles of clothing on it. Any wood will have its grain raised by doing this which may lead to snagging of fine garments. Good luck with your quest.

8/2/08       #3: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Frank Pender

The more tradational has always been Douglas Fir, here on the Left Coast.

8/5/08       #4: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
JJ

Bamboo

8/5/08       #5: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Adam

light brown PVC with a nice faux graining pattern. Kinda like a fibreglass door.

Other plastics may be more suitable for this product. I could list alot of woods that wouldn't be suitable.

8/5/08       #6: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Greg Baka

Definitely want wood. Too much plastic junk out there already. Bamboo is an interesting idea, but I don't think you could do the sort of drilling/notching/fabricating that we need.

We have pretty much narrowed the choices down to hard maple and white birch.

Now I need to do some testing to see how they behave when hung with wet fabrics.

Keep those ideas coming! I appreciate the info.

8/6/08       #7: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Adam

Leo,

Those maple drying racks could be worth a ton of money. After a couple of years they might become spalted. Dry them out, seal up with your favorite clear coat, and sell them as fine furniture...

8/6/08       #8: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Greg Baka

Hi Adam,

Excuse my minimal wood knowledge, but I can't tell if your kidding about the hard maple rack idea...

What is spalted? Is there something I should know about hard maple and what happens when repeatedly dampened and dried?

Thanks!

8/8/08       #9: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Gene Wengert-WoodDoc

I do beliee that hard maple will become rough with the repeated wetting. You should consider basswood or aspen. Both are white and will leave no residue; both will not develop extreme roughness with wetting, both are weak, so the diameter will have to be increased a bit, but doubling the diameter means 4x strength or more; both will have little warp if properly chosen wood

8/14/08       #10: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Ralph Member

Website: http://www.consultingwoodworker.com

Greg,

Bamboo most certainly can be drilled, milled, finished etc. to make what you describe.

Last year I did an article for Woodcraft Magazine on making bamboo sushi trays. Had great fun working with it. I was able to mill dovetail keys in the bamboo lumber with no difficulty

It can be had in "solid" form (glued up strips) in plywood and even in shapes.

Please check out my website, I would be happy to help you design and specify this product line as well as find and qualify possible shops to produce your parts.

Free free to contact me and we can discuss it further.

Ralph Bagnall
www.consultingwoodworker.com

8/14/08       #11: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Gene Wengert-WoodDoc

Bamboo can be a good choice for products that are not affected excessively by wetting and drying. Many bamboo species move more than oak. A cloth drying rack seems subject to wetting, so I am concerned that this is not a good use for bamboo.

8/14/08       #12: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Ralph Member

Website: http://www.consultingwoodworker.com

Not to argue with the wood doctor, but bamboo in it's lumber form is made up of a number of strips laminated together.

Bamboo is used extensively for cutting boards, and in baths for benches.

I had the opportunity to unscientifically test the waterproof qualities of bamboo lumber that was being considered for outdoor stair treads. Unfinished, I immersed it for several days. There were no delaminating issues. Three years hence the stairs in New England are holding up beautifully.

You may want to contact Chris at Northwest Bamboo. They sell bamboo lumber and he's been very helpful in answering my questions.

Ralph Bagnall
www.consultingwoodworker.com

http://northwestbamboo.com/index.html

8/14/08       #13: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Gene Wengert-WoodDoc

Thanks Ralph,
I have indeed done a lot of research into bamboo and had read studies done on the properties. Some species of bamboo (there are 1000s) behave pretty good, while others are terrible when compared to wood. Indeed, bamboo flooring and panels (not called plywood as bamboo is a grass and not wood, but one supplier calls them plyboo) are good some of the time too, but I have seen some terrible products.

You are indeed correct that bamboo is ripped into narrow strips and then glued together to make a flat product. Obviously, the type of adhesive is important if you want water resistance. In short, we do need to be careful that we say that all bamboo is equal...it is like saying all plywood is equal.

8/16/08       #14: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Ralph Member

Website: http://www.consultingwoodworker.com

Gene,

I can live with that. It is no different than plywood. Not all sheets are created equal. You have to be able to trust your supplier.

Ralph Bagnall

8/16/08       #15: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Gene Wengert-WoodDoc

Ralph...exactly.

I checked my records and I see that beech was used in the past as its grain did not raise. Perhaps that is also why it was used for wood clothes pins (if you are old enough to recall what they are).

2/10/09       #16: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Joe Redburn  Member

Greg Baka,
Heart of Cypress. I have seen fallen trees dug out of the mud in Mississippi that have been buried for 50 years or more and are still intact.
regards
Joe

4/4/09       #17: Re: Re: Re: Choosing wood species ...
Greg Baka Member

Website: http://www.bestdryingrack.com

It's been awhile since I started this thread. I wanted to thank everybody for your knowledge and let you know the final results.

We did finally go into production on the clothes drying racks. They are currently being sold through BestDryingRack.com (see the related link and picture)

We did end up using Hard White Maple. It looked nicer than birch, was stronger, and could be produced with a very fine smooth surface. We also use a soy-based wood sealer to prevent any raised grain issues.

I did find all US suppliers for the wood and steel, which was an adventure all on it's own. But definitely worth it. We have to help the small US manufacturers survive this downturn.

Maple was tough to find vendors for. The hanger dowels are 7/16" diameter and are actually made side-by-side 4 at a time on a molder. Evidently small diameter doweling machines are rare in the USA.

The laundry drying rack has been well liked by my customers. I really appreciate the knowledge and ideas you all shared on list and off. Thanks!


View larger image

Laundry Racks

4/4/09       #18: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Ralph  Member

Website: http://www.consultingwoodworker.com

Greg,

Thanks for the update, I have wondered how this all worked out.

Cool looking units.

Ralph Bagnall

4/4/09       #19: Choosing wood species for laundry r ...
Leo G

Website: http://lrgwood.com

Yer Welcome

Thanks for the update. Nice of you to remember to do that for us.

 

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