I’m making a board for a friend, 10’6" x 19 x 23 5/8 x 16 x 3 1/2. I’m using the 10’7"H blank and need advice on a pretty stringer that’s also strong and not too outrageously priced. I’m glassing this board with double 8 oz. Volan and plan to keep it clear. I’m interested in knowing the strength values of the following ideas I had so far and would also like some opinions - thanks. 3/8" cedar x 3/8" cedar glued - moderate$ 1/8" cedar x 1/2" balsa x 1/8" cedar - a little more$ 1/4" cedar x 1/2" balsa x 1/4" cedar - even more$ 1/4" cedar x 1" colored foam x 1/4" cedar - getting high$
The long balsa stringer may be scarfed - in several places. This may not be as you expect appearance wise. I just paid a lot of money for a blank with cedar/balsa t-bands and the multiple scarfs were a surprise. For structural reasons related to box installation, a double stringer of any width properly spaced (parallel or wedged) will allow full stringer depth on each side of your box adding significantly to overall breakage resistance. It looks pretty nice and you can paint between the wood cheaper than hi-density foam inserts. If a square tail, a tail block is a nice touch.
Thanks, John. One more question: is the spaced parallel stringer you were talking about the same as wood x white foam x wood? If so, it seems that option is only slightly cheaper than the high density foam insert. We’re you talking about something different?>>> The long balsa stringer may be scarfed - in several places. This may not > be as you expect appearance wise. I just paid a lot of money for a blank > with cedar/balsa t-bands and the multiple scarfs were a surprise. For > structural reasons related to box installation, a double stringer of any > width properly spaced (parallel or wedged) will allow full stringer depth > on each side of your box adding significantly to overall breakage > resistance. It looks pretty nice and you can paint between the wood > cheaper than hi-density foam inserts. If a square tail, a tail block is a > nice touch.
Yes - just two stringers spaced apart enough for a box to fit between.