PLASTIC LUMBER for customizing jons

[single-dad]

What are your opinons on using plastic wood for supports on customizing the jons? I think it would be lighter then treated wood and aluminum. It sure would not rot out, but I don't know how it would compare price wise. I don't have a jon yet, but when I am able to get the funds I'd like to get a L1852MT by Lowe. Not only for myself, but to take my son out and a couple friends. Thanks for any input on the plastic lumber.

[hoytedow]

Why don't you get some from Lowe's or Home Depot and run some tests on it?

[single-dad]

Once I have a boat I would, just getting other opinons from guys with boats if they used it .

[hoytedow]

I have thought about it. I am still thinking about it. I wonder about its screw holding and gluing properties but have not investigated yet. I have doubts about both qualities, as well as shape-holding ability.

[single-dad]

I'm not sure never used it yet. I would think if you use wood screws and not over tighten them it should hold fine, plus you would have the flex where regular wood would probably split.

[mreoe4sure]

question, are you talking about a product like trex , carefree, ideck etc when you say plastic wood? Or is there another product you are talking about that I don't know about ? I have sold and used these deck products and they are half plastic, half hardwood sawdust. They are very heavy, and can be brittle when cold, their span strength is less than wood of the same dimensions. They are also very flexible when hot, as I have bent them on curved stairs. There used to be another product I sold that was structurally rated that was plastic and had glass fiber in it. It came 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, 2x12 It was used for docks etc, exposed to water. It was very expensive, and have not seen It for several years. There is 100 percent plastic decking on the market now, It is just as heavy as composite decking the only thing it does better is color. It can look like teak,ipe mahogany etc, Hope this helps, and if there is another product that your talking about that's different let me know.. STEVE

[Easy Rider]

Being part wood do these products require finishing? I've been thinking of using such products for a base for a small structure on my after deck. Could attach it w 5200 and fasten the structure above it w traditional fasteners. There would be no holes in the deck and the structure above the "plaswood" could be easily replaced but it wouldn't sit in water either.

Easy Rider

[MatthewDS]

I wouldn't use plastic lumber, mreoe4sure has a pretty accurate depiction of plastic lumber. However, look into UHMW, it's pretty common on sport jons here in Alaska. It's expensive but indestructible. Your local plastic supplier should be able to quote a price.

[Easy Rider]

Matthew,
Shocking to get a reply from another Alaskan! Hello from Thorne Bay.
The black stuff right? I wonder if 5200 would stick to it.

Easy

[MatthewDS]

It comes in a number of colors, black is probably the most common. You might be most familiar with it as the white plastic that a lot of fish cleaning tables in the state are covered with.

We use quite a bunch of it in yellow as facing on marine fenders. I can't remember if you have an IFA terminal there in Thorne Bay, but next time you get on the ferry, look at the fenders that the ferry bumps up against. The plastic surface is UHMW. Basically, it is used any time you need extreme abrasion resistance.

I highly doubt that 5200 would stick to it, it has a kind of waxy surface, but you could always experiment with it.

[single-dad]

Steve, I'm not sure, I know there is a plastic lumber manufacturing plant about a half hour from me. All I know it as is plastic wood, don't know the different types. Thanks for the replys everyone.

[SamSam]

Treated wood corrodes aluminum, so be careful using that.

[single-dad]

SamSam, I am not using treated wood, just getting opinons on the plastic lumber vs aluminum.

[gonzo]

Plastic lumber is denser than hardwood. Aluminum can be made lighter and stiffer than plastic lumber.

[single-dad]

Gonzo, I didn't know about weight wise vs price between the two. Thanks