Laminated ribs

[Ron Nossaman]

>        I agree. Also as I recall the whole idea behind curved laminated 
> ribs is to produce a more uniformly strong rib or in other words 
> something where strength calculations are more predictable

I think so. Averaging the noise in the system...


>If that's the case then how many laminations is desireable in a rib say 24 
>to 28 mm tall?  3mm is about all most planers will squeeze down to so 
>seems that 4 or 5 laminations of  5 or 6 mm would be all thats practical. 
>So far in the few sets I've done I think I've used 4 to 5 laminations.
>      Dale

I haven't tried it to see what my planer will do for minimal thickness with 
spruce, but it will do just under 2mm with maple. Again, I don't know what 
the ideal is, but 5 laminations does seem to work pretty well for any given 
rib. It's enough laminations to minimize spring back, enough to average out 
most of the differences in the various pieces of wood used, and few enough 
to not waste time and materials making more laminations than are really 
necessary. it's another of the many balancing acts we do. There's probably 
an optimal lamination schedule, but I don't just yet know what it is. Maybe 
eventually.

Ron N