Hi Pete, I am just finishing my Great Auk. I used 1/4 inch strips but I found that one does so much sanding that the quality of the surface of the strip is not that important. I also found that the fit between strips was very important. I didn't use staples but used a clamping arangement. Some of the strips that were under stress did not fit together real well and when I sanded I opened up a void area between the strips. This had to be filled and left some strange looking places - although now that the glassing is done I would probably have to look hard to find them. My view would be to take the 1/4 inch and the surface the bandsaw gives and go for it. Earl