Nails For Decking And Some Cambara Questions

karma_carpentry

I just finished the decking part of a 300 sf deck. 1x4 cambara, and I used 6d ring shake stainless nails, two per every 16 inches. A lot of them bend. Takes concentration to drive them. I preferred 7 penny but the yard only had 6 and 8. 8d looked too big. Didn't want to use screws. It's down very tight right now, but wondering what the future holds, and what you all use when you nail 1x4 decking.

Also wondering what your prices are for 1x4 cambara wherever you are. Here in Boston it is $1.15 / lf while it was $0.99 / linear foot about 2 months ago. The import company is called "Cecco Inc".

Does anyone here bother with certification for sustainable harvesting for your mahogany purchases? My client was interested in it, and I know where to get "Blue Star" certified wood, which is from Malaysia. But some Googling on that gave mixed results - some sites say it is really a sort of whitewash to certify wood that is still old growth and sometimes irresponsibly harvested. It's more expensive too. I like the Fair Trade model but it has to be a proven certification for me to pay more for it, and hence my clients to pay more.

Last question, what do you all use on mahogany for finish? I was thinking the Cabot's Australian timer oil. I used it before on some steps and it looked good. How does it hold up? How does it protect against fading ? How often does it need to be reapplied ?

Thanks, deck builders.

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karma_carpentry

nobody?

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karma_carpentry

Well, some web searching answered one question.

Cabot recommends re-evaluating the need for stain every 1 to 2 years, which is what I thought. On Cambara, I would think every 2nd year would be okay.

I still am trying to figure out the way to get sustainable tropical woods. FSC, SmartWood, Rainforest Relief, Harmonized Wood, Malaysian Timber Council, all say various things. Is there an expert of some kind around this message board who can shed some personal wisdom on this topic?

In December I am going to Guatemala for a month, where my brother lives. He is a rainforest expert and he knows a lot of sawyers and carpenters, and he studies sustainable use of forest products. I may have some stories and facts to tell when I return.

Correction to the original post: I learned Blue Star is a company that imports Meranti from Malaysia, and Malaysian Timber Council is the certification agency I meant to speak of.

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Jeremy E

Karma,

I don't have any answers for you, but you may try your luck over at Woodworking Talk...

John Hyatt

Man ,I would not use that material on an outside project,I never nail an outside project, and belive me if those folks need a tree to fill an order they are going to get it that little stamp means next to nothing to them or to me.

I use twp finish on S American decking. John

BuiltByMAC

KC,

You might get some more knowledgeable replies regarding the stain by reposting that part of your post in the paint area here.

I'm curious why you were against using screws for the cambara. I've never worked with it but it seems like it would be hard to keep from gouging the wood with nail heads that bent over when you hit them. That, and the marks your hammer would make when pounding the nails flush.

Mac

karma_carpentry

I'm not against screws but wanted to not spend forever installing them. I don't do many decks, and I don't have the automatic screw gun. Thought they were overkill for straight 1x4 stock. Other carpenters I know do nail their 1x4 decking around here - it's a common deck for porches around here, other than T&G fir, and they're almost all nailed.

I had no problems with denting the wood. It's very hard, no hammer dents from pounding flush (and I did pound every nail flush), and maybe one or two gouge marks from the bent ones, out of a couple thousand nails. Overall, it looks great, and I feel fairly confident that they won't work themselves up over time.

Still, I wanted to 7d nails. Then I'd be very sure about it. Next time I'll go to another supplier to get them.

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dandeangeli

Hey Karma Carpentry:

I do a lot of porches in 1x4 mahogany, which is really meranti from Malaysia. It seems a little harder than cambara, and a little more money. ($1.10 from my yard vs. $.89 a foot from National). I usually glue it down with poly glue and then shoot it with stainless finish nails. The combination seems to hold up well, it is reversable and the installation is a lot faster than hand driving.

Handy Dan of Roslindale

neolitic

You realize that the post is over
2 and a half years old, and Karma
hasn't been her for a year?

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