Has anyone tried to make cross-laminated Balsa Plywood? I'm sure it would be stronger, but I'm wondering if the dried glue weight would diminish it's lightweight properties, much? I've got a bunch of 1/16th inch sheets I'm willing to waste on the experiment, but I thought I should ask here- first. Any tips on lightweight (BUT STRONG!) glue, would be helpful as well. Thanks Guys!
Balsa Plywood
- Thread starter Halo Blu
- Start date
I would use aliphatic resin glue. Look at Sig-Bond. Either that or a medium body CA glue but you won't have quite as long a working time with CA.
I do like the Sig-Bond glue for certain operations and it dries fairly quickly. But CA is tough to beat when time is a factor.bracketracer said:
Body, and Fenders. I thought by cross-laminating the weak Balsa, I'd improve it's strength. BUT! I also thought, the dried glue would bring my creation way over that of a strong, light weight wood. I know store bought plywood is extremely heavy.(Huge water content, as well). I guess I thought- without all the added water weight, the dried glue itself, would be equal to the weight of the wood- thus DOUBLING it's natural state. I've got the Balsa, I've got the glue, I've got a press, and clamps. I will weigh everything separately, and then again after it's dried.
I will not be doing stress tests, to confirm it's strength, but I'd bet- it's stronger, straighter, and just as beautiful as natural grown wood. I kind of like, the "look" of plywood/butcher block stained wood. Engineered lumber is stronger, and straighter. I just wondered if I could make it lighter.
I will not be doing stress tests, to confirm it's strength, but I'd bet- it's stronger, straighter, and just as beautiful as natural grown wood. I kind of like, the "look" of plywood/butcher block stained wood. Engineered lumber is stronger, and straighter. I just wondered if I could make it lighter.
I've used laminated layers of Balsa for fenders in the past. I found that it was difficult to sand an even surface by hand. The layers of glue are harder than the balsa, so I would get ridges in the fenders. Never tried it for a body. Good luck! I think the butcher block look would make a really cool car.
