Wood for pick up bed

[stuvy]

That’s greenheart re the splinters. Re the dust that’s all of them, a few tropical ones a bit nastier than others.

Saw some of that T&G extruded plastic hollow section decking in the merchants today, surprisingly realistic wood effect, it’s come on a long way recently.

I have seen it in the flesh but the price is more than the wood plus five years and replacing it

 

[Shiny Steve]

As the truck bed will have a motor cross bike from time to time or any thing I buy from eBay in the bed I want really wood about 25mm think

I will reinforce it underneath

@Shiny Steve wjat would oak be like against aluminium, I could use ali as a spaced against the oak and achieve the finish I want then

sorry bud, i dont have much experience of oak on alli, but obviously steel and alli mix isnt good. i think you would be ok with a decent paint on your steel.

 

[Keith 66]

Regarding splinters & dust, The dust from all tropical hardwoods is bad for you. Iroko is one of the worst. In Africa where it comes from the lifespan of an average sawmill worker is about 45.
Splinters from Iroko, Keruing & Greenheart will nearly always go septic.
As for softwoods Western red Cedar is one of the most dangerous, It smells wonderful but dont be fooled, It is a common cause of occupational asthma & causes other nasty respiratory complaints. Once you have been sensitized to it you may react to the dust from it years after the event. I did a big machining session with it ten years ago & my respirator battery went flat just before the end so i carried on. I had pains in my chest for days afterwards. Swept some up a few weeks later & had another reaction to it. I dont go near it with a saw or sandpaper now unless its outside & the respirator is fully powered up!