As for the grain, I can only imagine the thing cracking in two when it hit something if made up like the ones in the duckworks aricle. All commercially made blocks run the grain the other way as far as I can make out. But axle pin size probably is significant so as to lessen the chance of splitting. Sure would be nice if one of the experts would chime in! Brion?
I've been thinking of ordering one from Ording. They use elm as was traditionally used (traditionally as far as I have found -H.G.Smith I think it was). They hog out the slots from a single piece on the rope stropped ones but it is my guess that they have the milling equiptmet and it saves them man hours. For larger blocks and a bunch of them, I'm thinking it would probably be easier to build them up, Any suggestions from those that have done it both ways?
Just talked to my friend with the mill and millworks. He has some dry white oak and suggests using it for it's durability in the intended environment. Any comments?