Hi all,
I'm making putters at this point out of IPE wood which costs me about $58.00 for an 8 ft by 5.5 by 1.5 inches (5.5 bd ft) which is ~$10.50 I can get 31 putters from every 8 foot board which is ~$1.90 per putter. This is the most cost effective that I've found. Volume prices will go down significantly however, there is a problem. IPE is very hard ~3600 Janka rating as well as a good outside wood; however, the grain is much like mahogany and it chips easy. I'm machining these on a CNC but I have to stop the mill reverse rotation and change tools to accommodate the rotation change. This takes time not to mention the additional cost of mills.
Since the grain is tight and straight it also breaks easy. (see attachment picture) I happen to think the IPE is a boring wood and it doesn't sand down very smooth for a glassy finish.
Anyone here happen to know of a non boring wood that will stand up to weather extremes, easy to mill without chipping, hard to break, easy to finish, and have a cost comparable to the IPE (also be as available)? One more thing it needs to be at least as dense as the IPE Ipe, the Best Wood for Decks: Find it in Woodfinder!
Gerry
I'm making putters at this point out of IPE wood which costs me about $58.00 for an 8 ft by 5.5 by 1.5 inches (5.5 bd ft) which is ~$10.50 I can get 31 putters from every 8 foot board which is ~$1.90 per putter. This is the most cost effective that I've found. Volume prices will go down significantly however, there is a problem. IPE is very hard ~3600 Janka rating as well as a good outside wood; however, the grain is much like mahogany and it chips easy. I'm machining these on a CNC but I have to stop the mill reverse rotation and change tools to accommodate the rotation change. This takes time not to mention the additional cost of mills.
Since the grain is tight and straight it also breaks easy. (see attachment picture) I happen to think the IPE is a boring wood and it doesn't sand down very smooth for a glassy finish.
Anyone here happen to know of a non boring wood that will stand up to weather extremes, easy to mill without chipping, hard to break, easy to finish, and have a cost comparable to the IPE (also be as available)? One more thing it needs to be at least as dense as the IPE Ipe, the Best Wood for Decks: Find it in Woodfinder!
Gerry