<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"> <DIV>Dale writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>>   /_So a heavier wood would be a better choice than say spruce. <BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Ron N responds:</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT><BR>You bet it would. For the mass, rather than for the strength <BR>as most assume.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Why not a steel plate for side brace, and steel I-beam for beams? Stiffness, mass, low cost, plentiful material.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Bob Davis</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>