Bamboo veneer vs Balsa

General Discussion
21

Shwuz, no, the grain is length wise. The only disadvantage with this material from CertainlyWood is the 17 inch width. I had to use a second strip the length of the board about 3 inches to get the needed width. Not a big deal, tho.

Oneula has put me onto some other sources that appear much wider, and I’m checking them out. I’m going the balsa rails route on the current board, but I think this material could be wrapped around the rails. Next time. Maybe wrap the rails with a narrow strip first, then overlap a top and bottom. Or depending on the curve of the outline, wrap the rails only on the first 1/3 of the board near the nose and then wrap the deck all the way around to the flat bottom. Hmmmm.

22

im assuming you would all be using it for cosmetic reasons!

cuz it would work better as an addition to the rail or stringer material then a skin material.

ive repaired one

it had delamed

it was veneer over xps, and the skin itself was basically an eggshell

and could be considered NOT durable

unless you use glass under and over

i cant recomend it as a skin material, because if you were are use it at an appropriate thickess for a sandwhich skin

it would most likely be to stiff

and i deffinately wouldnt try to wrap it over a rail

if you use the veneer thinly over a another skin core material like balsa or d cell for cosmetic reasons

i can see that as valid

23

Silly, pm me your address and I will send you a sample. I think you might change your mind.

all the best to ya

24

Also, I noticed on the site that the natural bamboo is also available in 25’’ wide sheets. Why did you opt for the 17’’ wide. It appears that the wider sheets are comprised of narrower strips while the narrow sheets are comprised of wider strips. How is that for confusing?

Does this seem to be the stuff craftee used to create that sweet board of his–blonde deck and carmel rails? I mystified by and covetous of that one!

hunter

25

Hunter, When I bought mine only 17 inch was available. But you are right, confusing. It would not be hard to do different shades by patching sections together.

And Silly, you may well be right, but I’m still thinking this stuff is going to be better than glueing up sheets of balsa. I’m laminating with 1 oz/bamboo/2 oz on the bottom and 1 oz/bamboo/4 oz on the top. I don’t think lack of flex will be an issue. Particularly since all the fibers run length wise on the board. I’m going to tinker a bit with it by trying to wrap the rails using some of the left-overs. Making balsa rails is the most time consuming part of the compsand for me, although I know I’ll get faster with more experience.

26

howdy rio, you still active here? just found this thread after doing a sways search on 'pinas. banig is made of grass btw

cheers,