Author Topic: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates  (Read 3897 times)

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Offline DC

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #15 on: November 23, 2017, 02:51:03 pm »
I'm confused(what else is new). I'm looking at the last two pictures of the flat sawn wood. Don't those flames mean grain run-out? Am I missing something?

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #16 on: November 23, 2017, 03:52:36 pm »
Don when you flat saw you get that cathedrale grain pattern it doesent follow a ring it will be the belly side for bamboo backed bow !
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline Hamish

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #17 on: November 23, 2017, 05:26:57 pm »
DC, With all types of backing lams you need to look at the grain on the sides to get true picture of how straight the grain really is.
Flat sawn lams can look like they have too many steps on the back. Check the grain on the side and if the run off  1:16 or more you have viable backing strip. For practical purposes a 1/8" thick backing strip, the grain needs to run from back to belly at no point less than 2" along the length. 1:16     1/8":2".

Same again for a quarter sawn board. At first glance  the edge might appear straight, have a very close look at the grain and the grain(use a loupe if necessary) may be skewed too much. Use the 1:16 ratio again.

Rift sawn is easy to see the grain lines on the edge. 1;16 ratio still applies.

For core or belly laminations you can get away with less, but always a best bet to use the straightest grain available.

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #18 on: November 23, 2017, 08:49:48 pm »
Hamish did a better job of explaining then I could but here is a couple of ruff pics ,the first is a side profile you can see how the grain is runing down the lam in betwen the chatter marks and a end view pic of the grain !
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #19 on: November 23, 2017, 08:50:59 pm »
End view
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline willie

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #20 on: November 24, 2017, 05:12:03 pm »
what do you use for a grinder?


Offline Stick Bender

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #21 on: November 24, 2017, 05:27:04 pm »
I joint them flat on the jointer and run them threw ether the drum sander or the thickness planer the thickness planer is quicker and better tolerance for these thicker lams but for any thing under 1/4 in I have to use a sled with it and the drum sander becomes more accurate with thinner lams  at least for me.
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline willie

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #22 on: November 24, 2017, 05:54:21 pm »
Sounds like a good plan, is your sander as precision as your planer? Factory built? sounds like taking lighter cuts helps with the consistent thicknesses.

Don.  If the ring count is up there, having flames is almost unavoidable, and if the flames direction alternates, then you are not doing so bad either.

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #23 on: November 24, 2017, 06:11:57 pm »
The drum sander is actually more precision then the planer but with longer lams you can't avoid the conveyor belt seem but with wood +- 2/1000  is about the best you can hope for .
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline willie

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2017, 06:38:35 pm »
if the conveyer belt seam causes a divot in the sanded face, I would think you have a warranty claim

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: 1/4 Sawn vs flat sawn for laminates
« Reply #25 on: November 24, 2017, 07:12:02 pm »
Most conveyor feed systems have some kind of seem on the belts ,there are so called seamless belts but they usually don't come factory installed  at +- 2/1000 is splitting hairs with wood , raised grain or a speck of saw dust would cause that to ,in a perfect world you would like 0.000 but it's never happened for me with wood . there are guys that claim they get tighter tolerances by grinding there conveyor belts and trueing there drum paper.
If you fear failure you will never Try !