Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 08, 2003 03:14am | #1

   I haven't used it but Azec doesn't need paint - and it can be milled to detail.

   Primtrim has limitations - mostly flat stock applications and tricky on outside corners. It will explode with power nailing - little volcanoes. You need to predrill and use SS nails.

   Fypon has great detailed stock that won't rot.

   With the two later choices, they come pre-primed and we have often left them for the winter months with no more paint until spring. Then you need to brush it over with fine sandpaper to clean it up and make it ready.

   All manmade trims have one thing in common that you have to keep in mind. Real wood does not grow in length. Engineered wood does. Long lengths cannot be butted tightly, they need an eighth or so of caaulked gap at butt joints for thermal expansion

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   crawdad12 | Oct 13, 2003 06:14pm | #3

   Thanks for the info Piffin.  I was unaware of the expansion l/w on the man made stuff.  I'll weigh my options.   Thanks ,Craw

2. 
   RalphWicklund | Oct 08, 2003 03:35am | #2

   I've been using MIRATEC with good results.

   Comes in 16' sticks and is 5/4x4 or 5/4x6, preprimed. Has a heavily grained face like rough cut cedar and edges and back are smooth. It's relatively soft but apparently waterproof. I gun nail it through the face and use a filler for the holes. When the filler is hard I scrape lightly to simulate the grain of the trim and when primed and painted you can't tell where the holes are.

   It can be edge nailed but then it tends to split slightly. I use finishing nails near the ends to minimize the end splitting open but regular galv. ring shank 8d's the rest of the way when building corners. It does not split when face nailed, even near the ends. Looks like the manufacturing process layers the material like a ream of paper saturated with binder and then pressed to form the stick.

   It should be stored flat because it will bend and then you may have to use extra nails to hold it down. Had some that were stored on edge overhanging a pile of other material and those bent sideways to the face. You can force them straight to nail but it takes an effort you don't want to use if you're on a ladder.

   The only real complaint I have is the softness of the material. Corner and door trim can be exposed to rough traffic which will abrade the edges.

   Last price paid was $10.50 for a 5/4x4 stick.

1. 
   crawdad12 | Oct 13, 2003 06:16pm | #4

   Thanks to you as well,Ralph.  I hadn't heard of Miratec so I'll check into that.

                        Craw