Glen-L.com

I am laminating two 3/4" plywood transom knees. I would like to try the "no screw left behind" method. Rather than using a few screws for alignment (and later removing them), can I use 1/8" steel rod for alignment (and later removing them). Or perhaps 1/4 wood dowels and leave them in? Any thoughts...Thanks- Tbone

In hind sight, I would have rough cut two pieces of 3/4 ply, glued them, then shaped the whole thing. No matter what I did when laminating things, they always moved, especially after I had left them to dry

But did they move AFTER everything dried up?

I've always had to really watch it when clamping things up to dry. I'll get some wiggle then and it won't be right if I don't address it right then. I can't say for sure but it would seem that wooden dowels would work although they'd be a little labor intensive.

I dunno..........

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It's always difficult to get good alignment w/ 2 pieces during glue up. Alternatively, cut one oversized and then trim w flush cut router bit. You get a perfect match.

Don

Thanks for the tips, unfortunatly I've cut both transom knees (and both stems, and both breastplates). I think I'll try using 1/8 steel rods as alignment pins. Using a drill press I'll drill one 1/8" hole, insert a pin, drill another hole, insert a pin etc. Once all holes are drilled I'll epoxy, pin and clamp. But I'm thinking next time around I'll cut the second piece oversized, epoxy together -then- flush cut with the router as Don mentioned.

why not just clamp together dry, drill a couple of pilot holes and glue together with nails as temporary pins. keeping processes simple always works for the better when messing with goo

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Billy's Belle Isle website

Because I got so wrapped up about using pin/dowels I forgot the simple solution

When I assembled my stem for the Crackerbox from 4 layers of 3/8"
plywood I used 1/8" wood dowels. This kept the layers of ply from wandering once the epoxy was applied.

Worked great and very easy to accomplish.

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Crackerbox Build:
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/jtpatronimfg/

I use small pieces of 1/8 stainless weld filler rod to just exactly that. I also use them as location pins to hold on things like plywood sheeting. When you twist them out it leaves a very small hole to fill after. I also used this method to make my laminated Crackerbox stem out of 4 pieces of 3/8 plywood. Cut the filler rod to length and bend it into an "L" shape, perfect alignment.

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