Good point...
The SLT is pretty tough on the stems too. Milled my strips were 1/2 by .215 to help, did mostly stapleless, tough at times. Had I been able to glue firm to an internal stem, might have been easier. Had to use epoxy in a few spots, TB wouldn't hold it.

: Even with a lightweight cedar inner stem, you can make a stronger stem with
: only slightly more weight...and if you're having trouble keeping the end
: strips aligned or tight (especially stapleless), you can glue to the inner
: stem (which you can't do with a form).

: And still do an outer laminated stem.

: Shawn