Thread: Veneer

Has anybody made scales by laminating veneer together to make patterns, whilst keeping the strength up?
I want to make some wooden scales, probably in the summer using this method, and wonder if anybody has tried it. You could make some very nice maple/ figured walnut ply, which would make a beautiful handle. Or purpleheart and birdseye maple.
Nick

I've thought of this myself....
I have seen many types of veneer wood availible at woodcrafters here, and have thought of layering different woods, or wood and brass, and sanding down the scales to have that pattern similar to the mircata-Dovo razor scales.

If you do this, post images!

Keep us posted.....(I'll do the same if I get to it)

C utz

Yeah, I was playing with the idea for some time... I have to go to a friend's lumberyard and get some veneer... I thought of using epoxy for between the layers.

pics would be nice, I promise to post mine, when I'm done...


cheers,
Nenad

Mmmm, not out to rain on parades here, but I think the veneers would be wasted in this application.

All you would see (with the exception of the top layer) are the contrasting layers just like any other ply wood.

Also, without cross layering the grains the laminate may be susceptable to warp along the axis of the grain.

Hey, I hope Im wrong on all counts. My brother has a pile of veneer offcuts that would keep me in custom scales for years.

My idea was that you would only see the edge stripes of contrasting colour, but then if you bevel the edges in a nice way you can vary the amount each ply shows through. I would definately alternate the grain as it will be used in a damp environment.
I'll definately post pics when i have done it, but it is a long term plan, i'm moving away for at least 2 months without access to my tools so it will have to wait for now.
Nick

That would be like... uhm...
Damascus wood!!!

Originally Posted by Lancer

All you would see (with the exception of the top layer) are the contrasting layers just like any other ply wood.

Yes, but that is probably why the dovo mircata scales are rounded, to show the gradual pattern....

Thanks for the cross patterning the wood idea though. I was not thinking about that, but you do raise a good point. I guess I did not consider the warping issue because I was thinking of thin brass as one of the layer, but also because of all the glue that would be used in between each layer (stiffening the scales...).

I think this should be more of a design challenge for us!
Who can use veneer wood to make a patterend set of scales?
What would it look like?


I'm sure we will have a number of various designs, as a bunch of us seem to have been thinking of this direction, and each of us with their own 'minds eye' view of what it would look like....

C utz

Originally Posted by C utz

Thanks for the cross patterning the wood idea though.

C utz

I have built a guitar pickguard, with laminated wood, similar to this:



The layers were cross patterned, to prevent warp, but the warp was still there, though in unusual form, warped in both directions, kinda like hyperbolic paraboloid!

I think that would be unsignificant on smaller sized scales...

Nenad

Originally Posted by C utz

Yes, but that is probably why the dovo mircata scales are rounded, to show the gradual pattern....

Thanks for the cross patterning the wood idea though. I was not thinking about that, but you do raise a good point. I guess I did not consider the warping issue because I was thinking of thin brass as one of the layer, but also because of all the glue that would be used in between each layer (stiffening the scales...).

I think this should be more of a design challenge for us!
Who can use veneer wood to make a patterend set of scales?
What would it look like?


I'm sure we will have a number of various designs, as a bunch of us seem to have been thinking of this direction, and each of us with their own 'minds eye' view of what it would look like....

C utz

mmmm It'd be VERY heavy but why not layered brass and s/steel? (heat transer would also be a major consideration)

Edit: Actually scrap that idea, warping due to heat would be a bastard... bit like a bi-metal strip...

Originally Posted by superfly

I have built a guitar pickguard, with laminated wood, similar to this:



The layers were cross patterned, to prevent warp, but the warp was still there, though in unusual form, warped in both directions, kinda like hyperbolic paraboloid!

I think that would be unsignificant on smaller sized scales...

Nenad

Beautiful work Nenad,
I don't think the reason for the warpage was due to anything more than your use of burled veneer. The grain in that wood is running in so many directions that the only way to stabilize it would be to laminate it to something like sheet metal or MDF. Solid pieces of burled wood are typically cut oversized, allowed to sit in the shop long enough to release any internal tensions, then milled to final dimension.
Cheers,
Ed