Laminated panels (Farrell)

[Farrell]

Yes, but the same would be true for the solid counterpart - so no 
disadvantage here. In fact, such a defect would often be more difficult to 
detect in a larger solid piece of wood, rather than one that had been cut 
into thin laminations.

I find it amazing sometimes how little knots or pitch pockets or insect 
damage will appear in a perfectly clear piece of spruce after a little 
planing. IMHO, one of the very real advantages to building laminated ribs is 
that you are able to do something on the order of a manual CAT scan of the 
spruce prior to assembly. With the solid rib, you never know the integrity 
of the wood just below the surface - there could be a big knot or pitch 
pocket or whatever that will adversely affect the strength properties of the 
rib.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
SNIP
>> I'm following this with interest and think I'm missing something. I can't 
>> for the life of me see any weakness, from a strictly structural 
>> standpoint, of any component being laminated.
>
> Only one, assuming use of a real glue, and that's a pre-existing split in 
> a lamination layer that was assumed to be solid and sound.
SNIP
>
> Ron N