View Single Post
  #1  
Old May 26th 09, 11:54 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Stealth Pilot[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 846
Default Bamboo Propellers

On Mon, 25 May 2009 12:32:15 -0500, Charles Vincent
wrote:

Stealth Pilot wrote:
On Sun, 24 May 2009 21:48:27 -0500, Charles Vincent
wrote:

Bamboo is put to some pretty incredible uses. A trip to Hong Kong or
even Beijing will leave you astounded. The buildings being built are
incredibly tall and surrounded with hand tied bamboo scaffolding. I
have walked under and on a lot of it at this point and I have taken many
pictures of it. I have also seen a lot of lifting engines put together
with it hoisting heavy electrical equipment.

Charles


dont be bamboozled by this. asian scafolding uses the strength of the
building for stability and support. western scafolding is usually self
supporting and free standing.
the underlying approach to the scaffolding is quite different
structurally.

btw why would anyone bother with bamboo when the same locales have
mahogany propeller woods as native forestry?


I assumed as much, as the bamboo is not graduated from top to bottom.
Still, and impressive structure nonetheless.

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/wells2008/1/1223530200/bamboo-scaffolding-on-high-rise-buildingsx.jpg/tpod.html

I know the British preferred mahogany for their propellers, but as I
recall, mahogany had some serious knocks as prop material. I can't
bring them to mind at the moment though.

Charles


mahogany was used by the brits, to quote lattimer-needhams engineering
text,
"mahogany is largely employed in the manufacture of airscrews, and the
variety that grows in honduras is favoured for that class of work. The
suitability of honduras timber is due chiefly to the fact that its
liability to shrink (after efficient seasoning) is only very slight
and that it possesses particularly satisfactory glue retaining
qualities. it is a strong, hard, straight grained wood and is not
difficult to work."