[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hi everyone, > > I use a wood product for my vertical declining dial called MEDEX board > which is used by sign makers. It is an engineered wood panel made from a > blend of wood fibers. It can be carved, sandblasted or painted. It must be > protected with some type of coating or paint to hold up in the weather. I > have some painted dials more than five years outside, and are still very sound > so far. There are other companies that make this type of product. >
My two cents: I think someone would like to use wood for two reasons: a) because it is easy to find and easy to work with; b) some wood may be quite attractive because of its collor, grain, etc. Since I am not an artist in any sense and since I am a very poorly-qualified dialist, very slow in undertanding and completely uncapable building any shape in the space using the imaginantion only, I very often use wood to build sundials, so I can visualize it. Since my only purpose is to have something to see and touch, a model to work with, I usually choose the cheapest and softest wood I can find. Although they may last a lot if kept indoors, it does not really matter so I can give to some kid to play with. If this is the purpose, wood fits the need. On the other hand, if wood is being used due to its attractiveness than there is no point in painting it. But if it is not under a heavy coat of something, it will not last much long if kept in the whether. A very good, very hard Brazilian wood could last perhaps 15 years under the inclemency of a tropical whether (depending on the thickness, how and when it was cut, the part of the trunk it was cut from...) A more common wood, or any timber improperly cut or handled will last much less, perhaps even less than a single summer. In my opinion, it does not make sense to build sundials with this kind of stuff. Goods sundials should last forever. Or at least a few hundred years. No wood can deliver this under normal usage (outdoors comes sun, comes rain). Finally, if the wood is to be disguised as any other thing, then why to use wood, to begin with? - fernando -- Fernando Cabral Padrao iX Sistemas Abertos mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pix.com.br mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Fone: +55 61 321-2433 Fax: +55 61 225-3082 15º 45' 04.9" S 47º 49' 58.6" W 19º 37' 57.0" S 45º 17' 13.6" W
