Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

This may be a dumb question. I have found a large quantity of purple heart wood
at our local Co-op lumber store. Priced at $10.00 per BF. Has anyone used this wood
to make rims for a Monitor L or other wood sailed windmills?
Thanks, Joe

MAybe it was wounded when they felled it.

Joe ive never heard of it but it must be something special at 10 dollars a brd ft. Windy that was funny as the devil's house

Guess you guys are not wood workers. I expected different answers.
Ten dollars is not that expensive when it comes to wood like walnut,maple,
poplar,teak and many more.
Just look up Purple Heart.

You don`t need a lot of wood to make the rims for a Monitor L or Dempster #14
Maybe about 8 to 9 Board Feet each.
I am not thinking of using this wood for sails.
Joe

I guess I'm out of touch Joe the last time I bought wood was about 4yrs ago and that was knotty pine at 4 dollars a brd ft. I didn't realize wood went up that much

I just googled it and holly crap i guess you did get a deal Joe

Yes lumber like everthing else has gone thru the roof. A pine 2x4x8 is over $5.00
I have not purchased the wood yet as wanted to find out if some one may have used it in the past?
I wanted to use white oak but the store had only received 117 BF and that sold before I found
out about it. It was priced at $5.95 where going 100 miles to Calgary and paying $12.95 plus tax and time
and gas it was a steal for sure.

I'm not sure but I think one of the big requirements back in the day was a wood that was best for being outdoors the rest of it's life. That' why they used cypress. Now poplar is in the mix. To me it would seem you would want a tight grain wood that has strength and a wood you can lay your hands on. So I would say go for the purple heart wood. I'm like Windy never knew there was such.

Joe, I have seen purple heart, but have never worked with it or any other of the exotic imported woods.

I guess to me it would me get the most rot/decay resistance wood for an acceptable price. If purple heart fits the bill ... then so be it. If you go that route, I would wager $100 bill you'd have the only purple heart windmill in North America.