Can anyone tell me what is the current state of aircraft quality spruce suppliers in the UK. I would like to buy some for a project but would rather buy small amounts of various sizes as and when they are needed. Is this possible?
It seems that the supply is quite limited over here, what do most people do when building wooden aircraft?
I have seen a couple of suppliers in the USA but am worried that it may not meet the standards required and end up being more hassle than its worth with shipping etc.
Regards
Aircraft Spruce in UK?
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Bill McCarthy
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Re: Aircraft Spruce in UK?
Give Dudley Pattison a ring at Swindon Aircraft Timber Co. - I'm sure he will be able to sort you out.
032125
Re: Aircraft Spruce in UK?
I bought some from Dudley, and still have a length, left over.
How much do you want? you say small pieces 10 ft?
Graham Dawes
How much do you want? you say small pieces 10 ft?
Graham Dawes
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Nick Allen
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Re: Aircraft Spruce in UK?
These guys can supply aircraft-grade spruce: http://www.collars.co.uk/ (I visited them last year with a friend who was buying wood for a mast -- the manager there is a friendly, clued-up guy, very conscientious about the quality of the wood he supplies.)
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Mike Freeman
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Re: Aircraft Spruce in UK?
I would like to build a Flitzer Biplane. I am very much in the early planning stages going through the plans etc. I know that many projects never get completed and I am quite short on space so I don't really want to buy a load of wood in one go.
I would like to try my hand at some ribs or maybe the tail and take it from there. I was looking for somewhere that could supply small batches as and when I needed it.
If anyone has any surplus lengths then I would be interested as well.
I would like to try my hand at some ribs or maybe the tail and take it from there. I was looking for somewhere that could supply small batches as and when I needed it.
If anyone has any surplus lengths then I would be interested as well.
038732
Re: Aircraft Spruce in UK?
The only source I know of in the U.K. is Dudley Pattison and if I need any spruce in future I will buy it from Dudley.
A few years ago I corresponded with Jeremy Freeland at Collars. He was very helpful and interested in my project and would have supplied me, but in the end I went to Western Aircraft in Canada. Even they were struggling to find decent wood at that time. Not sure if they are still in business.
Collars sent me a selected sample of their spruce and this tested OK for moisture content, grain count and strength in bending, but I don't have the expertise or gear to carry out the other tests required of aircraft spruce. They still send me their regular newsletter and from what I have read, there isn't much they don't know about sitka spruce.
Best of luck!
Ian
A few years ago I corresponded with Jeremy Freeland at Collars. He was very helpful and interested in my project and would have supplied me, but in the end I went to Western Aircraft in Canada. Even they were struggling to find decent wood at that time. Not sure if they are still in business.
Collars sent me a selected sample of their spruce and this tested OK for moisture content, grain count and strength in bending, but I don't have the expertise or gear to carry out the other tests required of aircraft spruce. They still send me their regular newsletter and from what I have read, there isn't much they don't know about sitka spruce.
Best of luck!
Ian