I'm adding a layer of 3/16" UHMWPE to the base of an aluminum ski. There is a compound curve at one end. The ski is approximately 50" long, 8" wide with the center 6" being flat. The outside edge 1" is bent up at approximately a 20 degree angle. Looking for suggestions: How ...

Spray a mist coat of spray adhesive (3m77) which ill hold the fibers together, stop fraying and not not screw up the epoxy. I do this when using uni for model airplane wings.

Hello All, My 5 year old, 45 lb. son asked for a pair of skating skis so I've obliged him since this looks like a good project to attempt. I've drawn the mold and core in CAD, plotted them and will make up hot wire templates from counter top laminate. The mold will be cut from 2" blueboard and ...

Where are they located?

Hi Ben, You can find braided tubes (sleeve) at Sollarcomposites.com . These guys have many different braids and sizes available. Keeping the braid tight around the core will be a PIA and vac bagging wont work too well as it tends to pucker and drag the sleeve to the corners. Wrap the core from one e...

Hey Mike, Nice explanation and I'd like to add to it. Any fiber matrix can be prepreg not just FG. The resins in prepreg are not necessarily better or of the optimal resin/cloth ratio. Some wet layups can have better resin/cloth ratios than prepregs if the builder is skilled. The biggest reason the ...

I use a Gast diaphragm pump. Its small, costs about $150 and pulls 25"hg as long as the bag is sealed. The thing runs all night, there is no oil and I adjust the vac. using a bleeder valve. Mine is 10 years old and still works great. I have bagged 2 kayak hull halves at the same time with it. I...

Hi Nick, Sorry for the delay getting back to the forum. Computer failure requiring a replacement. Total PIA and cash drain. Making poles is pretty simple. Mine have been for nordic skiing and are 3 layers of carbon around a tapered drill rod blank. The carbon is uni with one layer around the circumf...

If you are trying to build a pair of skis to save cash stop right now. After you invest in the time, tooling and materials you will be spending as much, if not more, as if you went and bought some year old boards. Sounds very philosophical, but build because you enjoy the challenge and reward of doi...

Thanks. The SCR calculator is what I was looking for. I'll have to grab a copy of the book you mention. I originally tried to overlay the arc touching the tip, waist and tail with the ski in planform and it wouldn't fit. I might (most likely) didn't lay it out correctly. The fit was so far off a few...

My neighbor is a math PhD so I'll ask him if there is a formula. If not, he'll probably figure one out just for S&Gs. I'm also going to pin the tip and tail of the ski into place using a pink insulation foam wedge, load the ski to edge the length and then trace the edge line and see how this mat...

Hello, I'm getting ready to build the first pair of skis I've ever tried. I decided to use dimensions of a ski I enjoy skiing so I have something to compare to. The sidecut radius , as I understand, is the radius of turn the ski will track when fully edged. Just for S&Gs I layed out the board's ...

How much extra camber is built into the mold to account for springback?

Here is a link to an R/C site where you can run a search and find tons of info and issues people have solved. http://www.rcgroups.com/composites-fabrication-210/ Most use Krylin spray paint and I've had good luck with it. Also, make a test run or two to be sure it works with your setup. A foot long ...

When applying graphics directly to composites during the layup of wings for r/g gliders, builders use a layer of draftsmans mylar. The mylars are waxed (I use carnumba car wax) and them painted. You must paint in from the outside in. The layup is as usual and the maylars are placed on top of the wet...