Rubrail

[rickal4884]

I need some recommendations as to the types of wood to use for a new rubrail. Teak is prohibitively expensive. I was thinking of IPE or Mahogany? Any other thoughts?

[Tim]

Mahogany is a nice choice as long as you're willing to keep it properly finished; it won't hold up as well as teak if neglected. But it looks great, and holds up well, under varnish.

[Quetzalsailor]

Ipe is very hard, and I think, brittle. Fastenings would have to be mollycoddled and if it's really as brittle as I understand then it would shatter upon impact. (I saw a broken piece which did not look like a tough break.) Fine for decks and railings.

FD have spruce rubrails, as do canoes: light but a bit delicate and require finish.
I've seen ash, too: tough but require finish.

There's always a nice vinyl extrusion...with a snap-in strip of chrome.

[bcooke]

There's always a nice vinyl extrusion...with a snap-in strip of chrome.

<shudder>

Teak only hurts once. But yeah, its a big hurt these days.

[okawbow]

I've used osage orange, (or hedge apple wood, ) for a tiller, handrails, and winch bases. It's a US species and not endangered. It is the most dense, most rot resistant, and strongest US wood available. It starts out bright yellow, but quickly turns a golden brown in the sun. I've seen osage fence posts in the ground 75 years that were still solid. Many hardwood dealers carry it. Glue joints should be cleaned with acetone first. Epoxy or recorcinal glues work well.

[One Way David]

okawbow, that is dead on. If you use dried osage (bois d'arc, hedge, horse apple all the same), be sure to drill before you screw or bolt and you may go through some cutting tools. This can be a very tough wood. I have fence posts on the farm that have been there for 100 years. I can't drive concrete nails (hardened steel) into it, they just bend. I have a bow made of osage about 15 years ago. If I drop it vertically on concrete from a height of about 1 foot, it rings like a piece of steel. Love that wood. Dave.

[Oscar]

There's a long row of Osage along a road that I drive my daughter to school on. In fall there is a bombardment of the fruits.....look like yellow tennis balls. Quite impressive. I've been planning on putting some rail fences in the yard. Wonder if anyone makes those in these parts...

[One Way David]

Oscar, I'm in Kanas and Farm and home stores generally stock hedge posts in varuety of sizes. Never seen rails though. Fence builders guard their sources vigorously, even thougt the trees are common. Farmers like to keep them for their own and neighbors use. The wood splits fairly easily but can be very tortuous, not straight. Dave