Stock question

[Matt P]

Two stocks one laminate and the other walnut, both same shape.
Would there be much difference in weight, which would be lighter ???

Matt P

[Simon C]

I would suggest that the walnut would be heavier as it is much denser..

I have worked with both materials in the past and for the average blank, I would estimate it to be in the order of 200gms or therabouts.

[Woody_rod]

Yes, Simon is likely correct, but it does depend on what stock you are talking about. Some laminated units are quite heavy, some walnut units surprisingly light.

Timber being an individual thing, it can be lighter or heavier, even from the same plank. Some people use heavier timber for the laminates, and it being glued such as it is, makes it a little heavier as well.

I have been playing with some WA Jarrah, and it can be a lot lighter than people think.

[littlebang556]

The weight of the walnut will depend on what grade it is...as a general rule exhibition grade is usually heaviest.

As for the laminate, I asume it is a standard laminate and not a custom hardwood laminate and yes as stated by others can sometimes be a bit lighter.

If your question is formed to find lightest stock to avail heavier components then I would not much bother so long as they are bedded soundly but my personal preference is to use heavy stocks so as to absorb an amount of recoil.

I once made on out of 3 laminates of Tassie Oak and is sure was heavy and stable to boot.

As I embark on the aluminium stock making process in the near future I may have to accommodate some weights to make the things feel similar to others I have shot.

Hope some of this helps

Cheers

Rob Alman

[johnk]

Matt,

Some adhesives add a fair bit of weight, particularly if there's porosity in the laminates. To the contrary, prelaminated material, eg ply, usually uses lighter timbers & stiffens it with the crossgraining & adhesive. Way back when I shot bench, the ¼" laminates were way heavier than a single lump of timber.

Your call!

John