Actionwood

[levibear]

How is actionwood made? Yes this question is leading to a thought and another question  

[gudspelr]

Could be wrong, but I think it's just thin strips of wood glued and pressed together.  Kinda like plywood, but better.


Jeremy

[UnderControl16]

where can you buy action wood?

[bjansen]

KennyM has some...Binghams does as well.  You can buy large sheets from Rutland Plywood corp as well as Laminates Affield.  Actionwood (Rutland calls it Stratabond, LA calls it Sprectaply) All ofthem are essentially thin veneers of birch dyed and glued together.  It creates a strong, uniform product that sands and shapes very nicely.

[levibear]

So then this product could be made at home?

I have attempted a trial run using alcohol based dye and thin strips of hrd rock maple strictly as riser material, they are cooling in the hot box as this is written.

further thoughts on this would be very very helpful
Thanks L bear
 

[UnderControl16]

bear i can't wait to see if it works or not and how it turns out, please post pics when you can. are you going to be at compton? and thanks jansen

[bjansen]

I am looking forward to seeing yoru riser block as well L bear.  Post some pics of that baby

[Jason Scott]

What type of glue would you use to make some actionwood? All I have on hand is smooth-on and that would get expensive if I tried to make a decent size piece with lams anywhere near the thinness of commercial actionwood. Twenty some odd strips buttered both sides would take a pint of smooth-on. That's $15 in glue and hours resawing and sanding 1/16" or even 1/8" strips. Am I over thinking this?

[bjansen]

Jason I agree...It would cost a guy alot of time and money to make his own actionwood similar to the manufactured stuff...but sometimes making it yourself makes all the difference.  I would probably use Urac 185 (which is cheaper).  

As an alternative to the dyed birch actionwood, You could also cut the laminations a bit thicker (to cut down on the glue joints and time) and utilize alternative hardwoods for the color effect)

[levibear]

All of you make very good points. I used a well set up table saw, the lams came out approx .0625 that is using some old hard rock maple. I think thicker lams woud work and not detract from structal strength.
Please keep in mind i am using this for the riser only, limb lams would require more acurate lam to lam thickness, and i can't see puchasing a resaw for this project. I did use smooth on and followed the heat curing protocol, further you are correct lots of time and work but my intrest is in the finial result...
I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this any furhter thought would be very helpful  

[levibear]

Gentelmen, A further thought what dye pattern would you use? alternating color...leaving some plain...only partialy dyeing some lams...the combinations are endless...what are your thoughts?    
p.s. yes i will be at comptons

[UnderControl16]

personally i have always enjoyed the color combintations that stick close to natural wood colors, aka browns, tans, white, and all different shades.