is there somewhere in canada where you can buy a laminated wooden slab for a barrel blank? Also, if I decide to try to make one myself, what types of wood and/or adhesive would you recommend. I was thinking of using 1/8" thick hardwood lumber.
Making or buying a laminated blank
- Thread starter Papaclaude
- Start date
I used .500 arctic birch plywood from home depot. I used gorilla glue and so far so good. hint get as many strong clamps as you can like 10 if you can or failing that a crap load of weight that you can pile onto it . I used clamps so I don't know how much weight you will need to be successfull. that wipe on poly from minwax is outstanding
Boyd's and probably others, will sell you a laminated blank. These are no doubt birch from Rutland Plywood, the largest manufacturer in the US.
The Baltic birch will work. I've used Gorilla Glue. West System epoxy (Lee Valley) would undoubtedly be suitable.
If you laminate up your own blank, you can cut the laminations so that much of the rough inletting is done.
If you could resaw hardwood, and have access to a thickness planer, you could lay up your own blank using the wood(s) of your choice. Clamps can be improvised using slats and threaded rod. Use lots of clamps.
The Baltic birch will work. I've used Gorilla Glue. West System epoxy (Lee Valley) would undoubtedly be suitable.
If you laminate up your own blank, you can cut the laminations so that much of the rough inletting is done.
If you could resaw hardwood, and have access to a thickness planer, you could lay up your own blank using the wood(s) of your choice. Clamps can be improvised using slats and threaded rod. Use lots of clamps.
laminated stocks
The biggest advantage to a laminated stock is stability and resistance to warping. Also, for cosmetic reasons, certain light/dark or coloured woods give interesting combinations.
I have also taken a fairly thick piece of wood, ran it through the band saw using a thin but wide blade, marked each slice, and then glued everything back together. This gives one coloured stock, with closely matching grain, but would be stable due to the laminations.
One thing is to buy your wood about one foot longer than you need for one rifle stock. That way, you can lay it out to get TWO blanks out of it, and either use the second blank yourself or sell it, and have a minimum of waste.
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The biggest advantage to a laminated stock is stability and resistance to warping. Also, for cosmetic reasons, certain light/dark or coloured woods give interesting combinations.
I have also taken a fairly thick piece of wood, ran it through the band saw using a thin but wide blade, marked each slice, and then glued everything back together. This gives one coloured stock, with closely matching grain, but would be stable due to the laminations.
One thing is to buy your wood about one foot longer than you need for one rifle stock. That way, you can lay it out to get TWO blanks out of it, and either use the second blank yourself or sell it, and have a minimum of waste.
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The best glue you can use is marine wood glue. It has phenollic in it and is completely waterproof and won't move if your seal eventually breaks down.
Hardwood has a good tight grain and is best for sure..And try to make sure your surfaces are perfectly flat, which can only really be accomplished by using a surface planer..
Three words: CLAMPS, CLAMPS, CLAMPS!!!
Hardwood has a good tight grain and is best for sure..And try to make sure your surfaces are perfectly flat, which can only really be accomplished by using a surface planer..
Three words: CLAMPS, CLAMPS, CLAMPS!!!
Laminated wood slab's don't make very durable barrels....
What's your project?
OK, so I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer
Oh, and BTW smart-ass, there are wine and brandy barrels out there that are several hundred years old!
Old wood is good wood....
What's your project?
I'm looking at building a hunting rifle from a bubba'd Swede I have. the barrel had a #1 tag, IIRC, and I'm thinking Bold Trigger and/or Dayton-traister ####-on-opening trigger and kit. I also have a home-made stock, but i may change it for a Richards', Boyd's or make my own stock from a laminate blank.
