Chambering Stringers Video

General Discussion
1

Click on the photo for the movie…

2

Gene, when you cut that much of the wood away, aren’t you compromising it’s strength? 

3

Old school plunge router… an array of router bits, baseplates, bearings, collars template guides, and the knowledge of how to use them …  Amazing what can be done with the right tools in the hands of skilled craftsmen!! 

4

No SC,  the tow wt foam is very strong and a 1/16th" spruce is getting sandwiched when I glue it up.  Even with all the chambering it’s far from a light weight.  Most of the boards I make from this foam are flexible and have no stringers.

5

Thanks Gene. Very nice.

I have some 2x6x10 redwood I was going to use to make a stringer for a 10’ board using EPS block foam. I was planning to slice it into 3 thinner stringers, but I like the way you did yours. My brother and I have made stringers that have been cut out the way the Grain guys plans show it using triangle patterns. It’s a lot more work and there’s a lot more wood left. That’s why I asked about the strength. Your way is easy.

I have seen a couple of your boards here in Hawaii. They are really beautiful.

6

Swaylocks gold.

Thanks for sharing Gene.

7

Thanks SC.  You can’t see it in the video but the cells are staggered so each upright falls in the center of the cell across from it, for strength.  Also, if you’re using regular foam, even classic wt, you probably don’t want to do the last step of cutting the cells into the foam.

8

Gene thanks for sharing! Aloha, Harry

9

Gene,  Great video. Love that old Porter-Cable router! You can’t beat an old metal tool. Pre- plunge router. Beautiful woodwork. I love it when my shaping room smells of freshly cut wood. I learned a few chambering tips from Gary Linden. Especially about staggering the chambers, major importance! Have you tried filling chambers with expanding foam insulation? I have found it useful from keeping the chambers from collapsing from heels on the decks, and it’s lightweight.

Keep up the cool woodwork. Barry

10

Nice!  Thanks for sharing

11

bitchin’ deluxe.

…ambrose…

I am humbled

and inspired ,thanx.

12

Hi Barry,  never filled the cells with Xfoam, I just try to keep safe margins.  Actually that is a plunge router, my dad probably bought it new in the early 50’s, i’ve used it my whole life.  I also picked up one off ebay at a really good price recently.  The only real improvement I see on the newer routers is that they light the work area.

13

my ears are still ringing

 

14

what kind of glue do you use to bond wood to foam for your stringers

15

From a mechanical engineering stand point:

This is one of the best things you can do to save weight with a traditional build (not talking compsand here)! The wood in the center of the stringer has very little contribution to the strength of the board.

And the biggest reason for using a stringer is to reduce buckling of the lam by a stronger bonding of the lam to the wood.

So when using thicker stringers and chamber them, you can create a stronger boards with the same weight.

 

 

 

Fantastic video! I like it.

16

… And by using composite profil with right design, shape and material, you can increase a lot buckling resistance and keep positive flex…