NewWood

[MicahR1]

I'm working on a boat restoration project. Yesterday I went to the Lumber store to purchase plywood. My plan was to use Marine Grade Plywood for the floor and pressure treated for seat bases (wrapped in plastic).

When I got there, the guy asked if I was interested in a new product (1 month old) called NewWood. His expectation is that it will perform better than either of the plywoods that I was interested in. It's a particle board that is infused with plastic or rubber (not sure) for water proofing. To the touch is feels a little rubbery, but has the rigidity of particle board or plywood.



I ended up purchasing one sheet that I'll use for some seat bases.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with it?

Thanks,
Micah

 

[britisher]

Re: NewWood

No knowledge of 'Newood' but one product I looked at was the plastic wood that is used for outdoor decking. It comes in a variety of sizes, thicknesses and lengths, even panels and given that it is used as decking that folks walk, jump on, has structural integrity too. It's rot proof, etc, etc, so sounded like it could be a good alternative to plywood. My only concern would be whether you could glass it in effectively.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: NewWood

I've never used it and don't trust it just by looking at it!... but it might be really good stuff.

I'd coat that stuff in 4 coats of epoxy resin, just to be safe.

How much $$$ was it per sheet?

Keep us updated on how it performs.

Edited to say:

I just googled it and the specs are impressive with marine applications as well as construction uses.

The only down side I saw was it's about 25% heavier than regular plywood.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: NewWood

the only comment that I have is that when synthetic boards first came on the lumber market a number of years ago, they were a combination of wood and plastic, and were widely used in the decking material market. It did not work out so well . . . it seemed that the wood absorbed water and expanded and the plastic did not. The end result was a distorted board and product recall. Later versions of the products were all plastic, which is the kind of stuff you see at Home Depot, etc today.

the product information says it is waterproof, but I'm just concerned about the the combination of the wood and plastic. Maybe coat the material prior to use.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: NewWood

if the plastic is HDPE, much like starboard, nothing sticks to it, so glassing or epoxy is out.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: NewWood

Just went on their website... http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG...ogie/EXP=1333740754/**http://www.newwood.com/

Sent them an email with some questions regarding the use of their product in boats...

I asked whether or not it would work with Epoxies or Resins and what prep was involved...

Once I get a response, I will post it here...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: NewWood

The NewWood PDF specs page is what you want to read:

http://www.newwood.com/wp-content/uploads/NewWood_TechSpec-sheet.pdf

 

[GT1000000]

Re: NewWood

Thew NewWood PDF specs page is what you want to read:

http://www.newwood.com/wp-content/uploads/NewWood_TechSpec-sheet.pdf

Yep, I saw that when I went to the site, but it does not specifically mention whether or not it can be laminated with FRP's or epoxies, even though it says it is useable for Marine applications such as Transoms, Stringers, etc...

In another page it does mention that wood glues can be used if the surface is abraded...it supposedly has some sort of plastic coating on the surface that apparently needs to be removed for glues to adhere...

I would imagine that it can be used with epoxies and FRP's, but that is what I sent them the email about...To get it from the "horses mouth", so to speak...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: NewWood

I think it would be OK as seat bases, upholstery backing, etc.

Who wants to be first you try it in structural repars ???

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: NewWood

Some of the composite materials that HD and Lowes sells contain recycled wood. It isnt 100% plastic like they would have you believe.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: NewWood

it says Transoms and bulkheads. it does not state stringers. They reference excellent mechanical bonding (fasteners)

My educated guess is that they are using HDPE as the binder (Recycled soda bottles). As I stated prior, nothing sticks to HDPE, LDPE, etc.

 

[MicahR1]

Re: NewWood

The cost was $35 (as opposed to the $65 and $85 marine grade). It's only 7/16", so it couldn't be used without sufficient bracing underneath.

I'm going to cut into it this afternoon.In my primary application (seats and backs) I think it will perform well.

The only piece of decking that I'll be replacing is the sheet over the gas tank in the center of the boat. Needless to say, that needs to be very strong. I'm going to replace the 1x2" (split and sagging) supports with 2x4's. Still I'll probably end up using marine plywood in that application.

*GT - I look forward to hearing what the manufacture has to say about your inquiry. Thanks.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: NewWood

it says Transoms and bulkheads. it does not state stringers. They reference excellent mechanical bonding (fasteners)

You sir are absolutely correct, I had typed in both stringers and bulkheads, and accidentally deleted bulkheads and left in stringers...:redface:

 

[jigngrub]

Re: NewWood

Who wants to be first you try it in structural repars ???

I may try it for some tinny decking on some smaller boats I plan to resto.

My educated guess is that they are using HDPE as the binder (Recycled soda bottles). As I stated prior, nothing sticks to HDPE, LDPE, etc.

They say it's made out of plastic bags on their site, I'm guessing shopping bags.

The adhesives question is answered in the FAQ section on the NewWood site:
http://www.newwood.com/frequently-asked-questions#Adhesives

Contact cement will bond and so will other adhesives if the surface is roughened to expose the wood fibers.

 

[andgott]

Re: NewWood

NewWood has both wood fiber and polyethylene. When drilled or cut, the wood fiber is exposed and will accept any adhesive that bonds with wood. The top and bottom surfaces of NewWood are primarily plastic film. Contact cement will bond to NewWood, as will products with MDI (methylene diphenyldiisocyanate) or organic solvents, such as Liquid Nails.

It looks like the epoxy will bond to the wood fibers, but NOT the PE... Nothing really sticks too well to PE, Other than PE that's bonded to it with heat. I don't know that I'd trust it for structural work, but it might be OK in non structural stuff like seats, etc.

I'd like to play with it a bit- But it doesn't look like it's made its way to our side of the country yet!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: NewWood

It looks like the epoxy will bond to the wood fibers, but NOT the PE... Nothing really sticks too well to PE, Other than PE that's bonded to it with heat. I don't know that I'd trust it for structural work, but it might be OK in non structural stuff like seats, etc.

I'd like to play with it a bit- But it doesn't look like it's made its way to our side of the country yet!

Sounds like you're not too familiar with contact cement (the stuff in the metal can)... ever poured any of that stuff in one of those red plastic Solo cups? It becomes one with it and turns the cup to liquid too, then when it cures out there's no way to separate the two. I have the bottom 1/3 of one of those cups eternally bonded to the bottom of a plastic 5 gal. bucket... guess how it got there.

 

[oops!]

Re: NewWood

at a 25 % weight gain per sheet.

why use it?......thats a lot of weight.

ext grade ply is light, cheap, and trued and true.

if the newwood cannot be glassed to or stapled in...whats the point for this application?

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: NewWood

I own my own millwork shop and work in high end residential construction. Been at it for the better part of the last 20 years. Ive seen all of the miracle products come and go. The only thing you can say about them, usually, is they are cheaper. I would stick with the proven methods for now and leave the cheaper alternative for someone else to experiment with. I promises you it wont be "better".

my .02
Good luck!

 

[benjh1028]

Re: NewWood

If interested in composites there are othe products available that are proven. I used Coosa Board and believe it was well worth the money. Quite a bit more expensive, even when factoring in less cloth/resin was needed. However, it's lighter and I absolutely will never have to worry about rot again (also used nida bond pourable stringer material).

Ben

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: NewWood

We here on the iBoats forum seem to always be searching for that "Perfect" material to restore our boats. It is understandable to a point. However, unless your boat has extreme sentimental value and you anticipate keeping it for your lifetime and the lifetime of other members in your family, I really don't see the point in paying the extra expense for these "High Tech" materials to repair/restore a boat that will not be in your posession in the next 10 yrs. The next owner will benefit from your efforts and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the boat will have longevity but is it worth the expense to you, to pass this on to someone else's benefit??? Properly prepped, installed and maintained wood in your restored boat, will last for decades. Probably longer than you will keep the boat unless, as previously stated, it's a "Family" thing. I'm not degrading anyone for using these "Non-Rot" materials, I just ponder the thought process. When I found my boat it was 50 yrs old and the transom, deck and stringers did not require replacement due to superior maintenance and upkeep. Other restoration here on the forum are on boats 30 years old or more and although the wood is in bad shape they are still in one piece and some still usable, albeit, not totally safe. I'm sure the glue and wood used in plywood today coupled with the extra care most people take in restoring their boats as compared to what the Factory did, will ensure that if the same care is given to the Wood in your newly restored boat, it will last for that many years or more. If money is no object then I guess use the High Priced No Rot products. But I think for most of us, we are not in that position.

Just my 2?!!!! Add another 98? and you can get a nice cup of Coffee!!!!