> in reading both pages ( yours and Doug Alderson's) I don't find any
> reference to the thickness of the stock cut to laminate ..

It all depends on the shaft thickness you want...

With (5) 3/16 layers, you get a 15/16 thick (before sanding) shaft. With (5) 7/32 (fat 3/16") layers, it ends up about 1 1/8" (7) 5/32 (fat 1/8") layers is the same thickness

> also have you experimented with doing fewer laminations (say two or three)
> to speed up the building if you aren't doing a feathered shaft ?

I haven't tried it, but if you have relatively clear lumber, then go for it. With more layers, the grain straightness is less important; with multiple layers, you can use knotty wood, if the knots are in the center of the strip, and you use clear wood on the outer laminate so you cover the knots.

I really like using 5 or 6 layers. The middle three or four can be a really light wood like spruce, cedar, or redwood, and the outer ones fir for impact resistance. Alternately, you could try using a thick inner layer of a light wood, with thin fir outer laminations.

Shawn

> addison