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I have seen fibre (The stuff purfling is made from) used in some laminated necks. It didn't seem like a great idea to me, given that it is a paper product & may fail over time. But... It sure would be an easy (and inexpensive) way to make some interesting centre strips on a laminated neck.
I'd be interested in your thoughts or experiences... Especially if any of you have tried this.
I use West System epoxy on my neck lams.
Thanks. Dan

I use veneer if I'm going to laminate a center strip but I wouldn't hesitate to use fiber but I also don't have any firsthand experience with long-term longevity. I have used fiber as a laminate under a headplate (the one in my avatar) and it seems to be fine after a few years.

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I've used it several times with no problems. Once on a uke that is over 3 years old, and still looking good. I know several high end builders that use it all the time. No issues at all. Here is my latest:

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I'm pretty sure John Watkins has been using it for years now in his neck laminations. I also wouldn't hesitate to use it and actually I have some waiting for the next time I do some neck laminations.

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Hey Dan,

I sell sheets every once in while (I typically always have some on hand in various colours) for neck laminates. One thing that probably helps in the whole structural process is that the laminate is capped by the finger board, coalescing the entire structure. I will be using it and have been thinking about patterns lately.

Shane

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Canada

I have thought about doing this, but didn't because I was concerned with the strength of wood glued to the fiber material instead of wood-to-wood. If others have been doing that for a while, sounds like that may not be an issue.

Thanks guys!
Maybe I'll give it a try... What's the worst that can happen, Eh?
I'll do a trial glue-up first & test to the failure point. I won't be doing this soon, but when I do, I'll post the results.
Shane... I'll check out your site to see what's available. I want to copy my back strip scheme in the neck layup. 10-10-10 B Mpl B & 10-20-10 B Mpl B is what I use most.
If you can't supply sheet stock to match, I can always get some from Gurian.

what a great time to run across this thread. I was just wondering the same thing about fiber in a lam. neck build.
Since strength and bonding doesn't seem to be any sort of an issue, I guess the only questions I still have are:

Does white fiber match the maple in standard purfling? I've used black fiber plenty but never white. I wonder if the maple, although a tiny strip, will yellow with time while the fiber will not. Comments?
Then I thought about the cost of the neck adding up, and looking at LMI's prices that was going to add another $25 (for the two sheets I'd need). Is that a pretty comparable price?

I've pretty much decided on a 3 piece instead of a 5 but am still curious.
-Alex

White fibre will not match the maple... Not in the purfling I use at least. I have used the B W B purflings, but prefer the look of maple. Under finish, I find the white, too stark a contrast against most woods.
I would get .010" & .020" maple sheets from Gurian. The black lines would be fibre.

Hey Dan,

I think I have .010 and .020 in Black and only .020 in Maple. I have some black pear .020 - maple .012 - black pear .020 already laminated. (I should check as it may be 20/20/20 but I think it is 20/12/20). I have a few of other colours as well.

Shane

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Canada

I like the look of .020/.020 or .020/.020/.020. I just realized lmi does use white fiber for their fine purfling- the .010 layers- so that first post of mine could come off as confusing.

thanks for the tip! a .020 of maple veneer it is. (if I go that route)

White fiber is way whiter than maple.