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Block Making

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Re: Block Making
Post by Captain Igloo   » Sun Feb 22, 2015 1:02 pm

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RunsInShadows wrote:
SNIPP

Learn something new every time I come to this forum. Excellent info.
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FYI, "Most Powerful Idea in the World" by W. Rosen gave a nod to the Portsmouth Block Mills.
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Re: Block Making
Post by RunsInShadows   » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:18 am

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Captain Igloo wrote:
FYI, "Most Powerful Idea in the World" by W. Rosen gave a nod to the Portsmouth Block Mills.


That is an interesting link! I'm a bit surprised that they used mortising, but I suppose that if it works why change it. My only question is why they would try to make single piece shells instead of multi piece. With multi piece you can make multi size blocks using the same parts/machines thus saving precious manufacturing space. The only reason I can think of is the possibility that the strength of the one piece unit is greater then the multi. I'd mock this up in CAD to check it out, but I no longer have acces to solid works.
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RIS

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Re: Block Making
Post by Charybdis   » Mon Feb 23, 2015 3:41 pm

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I think that it was in Vol 1, OAR, that Charis was working on cotton-silk sails but I have not heard of any discussion concerning the equally important rigging. While this era WAS in the 15-1800s in sailing technology, even the test-to-destruction techniques would quickly show that using more efficient sails with old tech hemp(?) lines could only go so far before breaking strains become manifest. While steam tech is being introduced for battle craft, steel-thistle rope and sails would be the treecat's pjs if the masts and tackle can take it.
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Re: Block Making
Post by AirTech   » Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:01 am

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Charybdis wrote:I think that it was in Vol 1, OAR, that Charis was working on cotton-silk sails but I have not heard of any discussion concerning the equally important rigging. While this era WAS in the 15-1800s in sailing technology, even the test-to-destruction techniques would quickly show that using more efficient sails with old tech hemp(?) lines could only go so far before breaking strains become manifest. While steam tech is being introduced for battle craft, steel-thistle rope and sails would be the treecat's pjs if the masts and tackle can take it.


Don't underestimate hemp. The breaking strain of cellulose is comparable to kevlar when dry(but cellulose has more defects)and significantly stronger when kevlar is wet (kevlar looses 70% of its strength when wet due to the residual acid from its manufacture). The old Levi hemp denim jeans lasted much longer than the cotton ones we are stuck with now.
By the way are you aware that the ban on cannabis was pushed by a guy named DuPont (yes, the same DuPont's making nylon at the end of the second world war).
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