Apparatuses and methods for bonding together two or more layers of oriented polymer material or secondary material to form a rigid member. Two or more layers of material are initially restrained along an orientation axis to prevent contraction and loss of orientation. Then, the contact surfaces of each layer of material are heated to a temperature above the melting point for each respective material. Next, the heated contact surfaces are merged together, and pressure is applied to the merged contact surfaces to combine the layers. Once combined, the layers are cooled, and a rigid unitary member is formed.