hardened shaftwood

P

paul fanelli

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Years back when Palmer was big on the east coast, they offered as an option (prob. about an extra $10-15$) what they called a "hardened shaft". They were popular at the time because they were smoother to the touch, needing no powder for a smooth stroke. They were darker wood and very definitely heavier. After seeing one that was left on a damp windowsill for a few years, the shaft expanded to almost twice its diameter in one plane only, giving an oval cross section. That made me think that the shaft wood had been somehow compressed in one direction before turning, but that's only a guess. Does anyone remember these shafts? I could be wrong on Palmer too, as it might have been Paradise. Thanks.....


paul
 
paul fanelli said:
Years back when Palmer was big on the east coast, they offered as an option (prob. about an extra $10-15$) what they called a "hardened shaft". They were popular at the time because they were smoother to the touch, needing no powder for a smooth stroke. They were darker wood and very definitely heavier. After seeing one that was left on a damp windowsill for a few years, the shaft expanded to almost twice its diameter in one plane only, giving an oval cross section. That made me think that the shaft wood had been somehow compressed in one direction before turning, but that's only a guess. Does anyone remember these shafts? I could be wrong on Palmer too, as it might have been Paradise. Thanks.....


paul
Click to expand...

I believe that what you are seeing is the normal for all woods. About four years ago I bought some fresh cut olivewood. I turned some if it to 1.375 round and hung it. I just meaured a piece and it is 1.339 with the grain and 1.375 across the grain.
 
Would it be ok say for maple, when squares to press it making it tight before turning?
 
Hi Murray and Hadj....
Murray, you are right about woods expanding more in one direction, but you had to see how that shaft expanded. You mention about .040 difference in an olivewood turning, while the shaft I mentioned had closer to .50 difference. Like I said, oval shaped x section, and I was even able to take a turn on the expanded shaft and make a playable shaft out of it, which was still heavier than normal. Hadj, I think the maple square shaft blank was compressed somehow. I'd like to know how that was done!

paul
 
Paul

Compressing the wood was what I had in mind. Like what we do to sandwiches sometimes :D If it were an old growth maple shaft, 10-$15 extra is cheap! So it probably was not.

Based on your observation of the shaft, it could have been compressed on one side only instead of 4 sides. Don't know what the effects would be but it definitely would make the wood grains tighter specially for maple. The question is for how long before it would expand again?

Quite intriguing :D
 
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