Laminated Bamboo Gunstocks!

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I like the idea of laminated wood, but at $569 I'll pass on Bamboo. If I'm reading the price list correctly that does not include a pad, swivels or shipping. Could go over $650 delivered. Of course their standard laminated stocks are only $100 cheaper. No mention of weight either. I'd guess 40 oz+ with the metal inserts in the action area and barrel channel.

They are beautiful well made stocks I'm sure, but a $92 Boyds laminated stock would probably be just as accurate if glass bedded properly and weigh less to boot.

I'd rather spend $518 delivered for a 21 oz. McMillan if I was considering that much money.
 
That high price is probably simply due to cost of labor and one off custom jobs.

Bamboo itself is very cheap, as it's a vastly renewable resource.

I don't know why we are not using bamboo more in this country. I remember when I was young, a person in our neighborhood was trying to use bamboo for a privacy fence. Sure it grew up tall very fast, but it ended up taking over their yard haha. You apparently have to use a trench or underground barriers so it doesn't do so.

I just put in bamboo flooring for my girlfriend and myself's apartment. It's great. Was pretty much inline with hardwood prices, and I can take comfort in knowing that it wasn't old growth hardwood being cleaned. (No, I don't vote republican)

Anyway, I think the idea of using bamboo for rifle stocks, and 1911 grips is a great idea! Once you have more people doing it, the price should be far below standard hardwood costs.
 
Once you have more people doing it, the price should be far below standard hardwood costs.
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I hope you're right, as it stands now i'd have to find a special build to justify the cost.

:)
 
Honestly, being green and being totally awesome tickles my fancy. Plus the blonde thing is a total turn on :p
 
I have an AI stock on my Left-handed Montana M99 in .243win - great stock, very accurate gun. I really like their aluminum chassis system over glass bedding.

I figured since i was already shelling out and having something custom made for me, why not go the whole way and get a piece of AAA claro-walnut? I mean, i don't get custom stuff normally, but if i'm in for a penny might as well be in for a pound....after all, i don't want the thing looking like it came from IKEA.:D
 
Labor, finishing, and all that aside.
I am not paying six hundred bucks for a plywood gunstock!
 
Beautiful, I like the light color, and the fact that it is such a environmentally friendly resource. Why have walnut like everyone else when you can have something unique?
 
Why have walnut like everyone else when you can have something unique?
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IMHO, every piece of Walnut is unique. Many other species as well. Those rings and burls never appear in the exact same spot twice.
It's the bamboo that would be hard to discern one from another, based on the lack of deviation in the grain.
 
desidog, that is true, and I too love a nice hunk-o-walnut, but how many bamboo gunstocks have you seen?...that is what makes it unique.

:)
 
Haha. Well, that's what makes a horse-race. When you make it happen, i want to see pictures; you're definitely in line ahead of me for bamboo.

If it were me, I've had it in mind to stain a wood stock green for quite a while, although i was going to go with fiddle-back maple for that eventual project. A green-stained bamboo stock might be pretty cool too, if the grains accept stain well.
 
It isn't more expensive according to the link...that company charges exactly the same for walnut.
 
When you make it happen, i want to see pictures
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Assuming I find the right build for it (or the prices drop), I will certainly do that.

A green-stained bamboo stock might be pretty cool too, if the grains accept stain well.
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I am NOT a big fan of brightly colored stocks (to include green), but I think a nice natural shade of green (light OD) would look great, but like yourself, I don't know if it will accept stain well (and rather doubt it does).

:)
 
The only concern I'd have is the density of the bamboo. Dunno about the weight after laminating, but bamboo is about half as dense as walnut which means a lighter stock (balance further forward, and more felt recoil). I love light stocks though and there's room to play with the segment alignments to for some unique grain patterns.

Carbonizing is essentially the same process (and colors) as making carmel from sugar (that's what's happening inside the wood). So it'd be possible to get even dark brown/black which would look pretty cool laminated with natural bamboo.
 
I don't like it at all. It's too yellow for my tastes.
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The carbonized finish has a natural brown look to it if that is more to your liking (I certainly like it better).

:)
 
1000649.jpg
Here's a quick example of bamboo with different levels of carbonization. The floor is natral (and it's darn hard the only flaw in a year of use was when I dropped a hammer on it). The more square board is a medium carbonization, the long board at the bottom is a deeply carbonized board (that's pressed together changing the grain a little). It will carbonize all the way to a dark black color with some lighter brown streaks.
 
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No problem.

It's cool "wood". The one flaw I've noticed is it does tend to split into neddle like fibers when rip sawed.

A great place to get some smaller pieces for little projects is lumber liquidators (they're a cheap flooring place that everyonce in a while sells off 100 sq ft and under pieces for a few dollars). If you want to try laminating it or try tools on it, I'll send you a few boards from my last haul if you pm your address.
 
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nelsonal said:
If you want to try laminating it or try tools on it, I'll send you a few boards from my last haul if you pm your address.
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I haven't the tools to try it (would need a stock replicator amongst other tools), nor the desire (I used to enjoy woodworking, but my allergies are too bad now), but I do appreciate the offer.

Skylerbone, I don't like most Chinese products either, but better is better, and at least in many respects this promises to be a superior material for some projects (I can see it working very well for an all-weather rifle or varmint rifle).

:)
 
OK bamboo fans (critics?)...
As the only known riflestock manufacturer utilizing bamboo, I thought you would like to know Accurate Innovations does offer darker colors, and heavier options. Check out the website www.accurateinnovations.com or email to see more images. There's also a heavier option utilizing individual strands of bamboo fiber; we call it "match grade" b/c there's no way you'd want to carry it in the field! To be upfront, I'm the guy that answers the phone at AI, and bamboo's amazing stuff.
 
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Williferd; welcome to THR, and thank you for the additional information.

Whilst I haven't had the opportunity to try one of your rifle stocks, I really like the idea. The only fault I see is the expense of the product. I might try one in the future, but I will have to find the perfect project for such a costly stock.

:)
 
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