What has everyone been using for custom stringers? I have a block of EPS, I’m just not really sure what to do about the stringer. I guess I could buy an entire piece of thin ply from Home Depot, but would rather find some balsa, or birch. I thought hobby shops might carry strips, but not as long as I need - 6’6".
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Ki
Rookie Shaper
Seattle, WA
Stagger two layers of balsa with 50% overlap(like two layers in a brick wall) so you can make any length you want. Stronger than one layer anyway.
regards,
Håvard
Kik:
I use 3/8" bender board, a laminated product that comes in 48"x96" sheets. You can run your individual cut pieces through a planer to adjust thickness. Also available is 1/8" or 1/4" PVC material, a signboard material available in many colors, sold in 48"x96" sheets.
Tom S.
I have had good luck by planing down redwood or red cedar siding, which usually comes beveled, to a flat 1/4 inch. You can find these boards up to 16 feet long and 8 inches wide, so very easy to fit a stringer in. Plus, it’s readily available from the local home improvement in my area. You can pick through the boards to find a nice tight grain without knots.
We’ve done a few with 1/8" pvc, boy are those flexy also some glue issues to if not scuffed well. Also experimented with the luan from home depot and the standard stuff. A local supplier recommended heavy brown paper glued up with epoxy. Sounds like anything would work. Is your blank already cut for rocker?
In regards to your other post, we can still get you a clark if you haven’t done so already.
Garden edge board from Home depot. 8’ long, 1/4" thick, 4" or 6" wide. Down here in CA, its redwood, but you’ve probably got cedar up there. At Home Depot, its out in the garden area with the arbors & benches & gravel, not inside with the lumber.
KikK,
I am just completing my first board - it is EPS (the Home Depot/Lowes variety). I used luan doorskn (comes in 8’ x 4’) sheets. I glued (with epoxy) two pieces together for my stinger - it had a nice black glue line down the center. One downside is that it was almost impossible to plane down the stringer as I was shaping (my block plane is so sharp I can shave with it…). I’m going to use something different on my next board.
-jay
Kik,
I tried the luan too and had the same trouble working with it. While it is light, working with end grain is a hassle.
I’ve had better luck using the redwood bender board Benny refered to. I glue up two 3 1/2" wide pieces and plane down to 3/16" thickness with an electric planer. That gives me enough material for a shortboard rocker. Easy to work with and has the traditional stringer look. -Matt
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