Need some ideas

[02ranger]

Hey. Some of you may remember me as the one that won the piece of teak the other day at the picnic. For those that didn't make it to the picnic or don't remember it, this is a piece of teak wood that was put down as the decking on the USS North Carolina in 1941. I've had several people suggest either making pens out of it or some other thing. I've thought of making a clock out of it, or maybe not cutting it at all and somehow displaying it. I was just hoping you could all give me some ideas of what you would do with it, and maybe it'll help me decide what to do. Here are some pictures of it. Sorry for the quality, but I took the pictures with my cell phone and it didn't work just exactly as planned. Thanks in advance......Matt

I would display it - use wood that is not as valuable to make the display stand or case.

[mkepke]

Matthew - I would also display it. My suggestion would be to get a small model of the USS NC and mount that to the decking you have.

-Mark

[sawduster]

I would display it also . I like the idea of the model . Perhaps you could commission one of our carving members to make one
Maybe even a scrolled profile as a 3 D compound cut

[cskipper]

I'd agree with mounting a small model of the ship (or is the correct term "boat") onto that piece of wood. It's much more valuable as the one piece - and you can add a narrative about when it was commissioned... I'd be tempted to keep the wood as the focus, not the model even if you get a really good model, since the object you are showing off is the wood. I'm pretty sure any scroller would be happy to cut one for you.

[ScottM]

How about making a shadow box containing a color picture of the ship and the wood decking in the box with it. To go one step further you could resaw the wood putting say a 1/4 thick piece of decking in the shadow box and then use the rest for pens. Those pens would make great gifts for current or past navy personnel.

[Don Sorensen]

I like the way Scott thinks....you preserve a little history...and get to make sawdust, too.

[Glennbear]

Originally Posted by cskipper

I'd agree with mounting a small model of the ship (or is the correct term "boat") onto that piece of wood. It's much more valuable as the one piece - and you can add a narrative about when it was commissioned... I'd be tempted to keep the wood as the focus, not the model even if you get a really good model, since the object you are showing off is the wood. I'm pretty sure any scroller would be happy to cut one for you.

I agree with you and Scott, preserve the piece intact as much as possible. As far as the nomenclature I believe ship is correct, my daughter and her husband work at Electric Boat in Groton, CT where the "new" North Carolina was built and being a submarine is referred to as a boat. Alan in Little Washington or some of our other active or retired Navy people are more knowledgeable than I but I think subs are the only large vessel that are called boats

[nelsone]

Sounds pretty neat. Do you have any documentation showing that is from the USS NC? If not is there any way you can get it documented?

[McRabbet]

Originally Posted by Glennbear

I think subs are the only large vessel that are called boats

I believe submariners call submarines "subs" and all other vessels at sea "targets"...

[johnpipe108]

Originally Posted by Glennbear

I agree with you and Scott, preserve the piece intact as much as possible. As far as the nomenclature I believe ship is correct, my daughter and her husband work at Electric Boat in Groton, CT where the "new" North Carolina was built and being a submarine is referred to as a boat. Alan in Little Washington or some of our other active or retired Navy people are more knowledgeable than I but I think subs are the only large vessel that are called boats

You are correct; subs have been traditionally called "boats" as they started off as small boats and the terminology stuck. Here is a link to the history page for the battleship North Carolina of the Battleship North Carolina web site, which references all the vessels that have been named "North Carolina".

Regards, Johnpipe

[02ranger]

Originally Posted by nelsone

Sounds pretty neat. Do you have any documentation showing that is from the USS NC? If not is there any way you can get it documented?

I do have a letter from the organization that donated the teak to the site for the raffle stating it's origin. It's not a copy of the letter either, but the actual letter, so I could put that in the display case if I decided to go that route. It seems like displaying it is the way to go. I kind of like that idea better than cutting it up anyway, but keep the suggestions coming. Somebody may have something I like better. Thanks for the help so far.

[FredP]

I would leave the shape as is but sand it up real smooth and oil it. bore a hole for an insert clock and display it proudly. time marches on and all that......