Laminated panels (Farrell)

[Ron Nossaman]

> Ron,
> pre-existing split in a lamination layer that was assumed to
>> be solid and sound.
> Wouldn't missing this detail in the glue up be less of an issue than 
> missing it in a solid panel. 

I was thinking rib. A horizontal split in the second layer 
would mean you have a portion of the end of a rib that's only 
effectively 7 or 6 millimeters deep.


>One big advantage of laminating is to 
> reduce the effect of flaws in individual laminations. 

True enough, but when the load is tension on the top 
lamination in a rib, the rest of them need to be pretty solid.


>One disadvantage 
> to laminating a panel I would think would be the glue up process itself, 
> the application of even pressure over a panel would require a serious 
> press, I haven't seen it done. An amateur attempt could definitely be a 
> failure.
> Fenton

Well, anything by anyone could be a failure if it's done 
carelessly. I'd think a vacuum bag would work well enough with 
a choice of gap filling glue not needing tons of pressure to 
bond. I see the problem of producing large uniform laminate 
layers in a small shop.
Ron N