Ski Builders Forum

so i had this idea instead of going through the process of planing down my cores which is a hassel for me considering my parents garage setup. could i just talk a wood veneer (such as poplar or oak) and just layer them, from long piece, to shorter until it is tapered? where i lay the longest on the bottom then shorter and center it, and then just layer it so that its thicker in the middle then the edges. I understand that it would be very flexible to the point where it would break if i just used straight up veneer. so i could add a metal sheet/line through the center to reduce the flex and stiffen it up a little. also i think this might be cheaper. but really for me its about what is easiest. thanks guys

layering veneer would work, but you are increasing weight because of all of the layers of glue that would be necessary between the sheets of veneer.

thanks for the help. my process for building my one pair is like the one in that forum link. im thinking about using veneer, just to try it out, and it would be easier then the traditional wood. Also with the weight being an issue, i am okay with that because my last pair was super light and they snapped.

Doing veneer won't make it any less stiff than if you did a solid core of the same wood. Don't bother with a metal layer (also if you put a metal layer in the very center, it won't change the bending stiffness at all You'd want to put it on the outermost layers)

I've been wanting to do a veneer core just to save on waste - there is a LOT of waste using a planer, you take off about 1/2 the wood into just sawdust.

When you glue the layers together, I'd do it in a vacuum bag, you don't want voids in there.

Also, Line makes a veneer-cored ski. Is that the Afterbang? I'm so out of touch with today's skis I can't remember.

Yep the afterbang
http://video.mpora.com/watch/FzdBm8CDZ/