its true, TP composites eliminate hand application of your matrix (i.e. pouring the resin from a cup). From a big manufactures point of view that can significantly reduce ski to ski variations and automate more of the process. that with the recycleability and lack of VOC's make TP composites pretty ...

googled "thermoplastic skis" and this came up: http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5544908/description.html so someone has done it and even gone so far as to patent it. Its crazy what people will go patent to try an make a buck, how is a material selection an "invention" thats BS. ...

something I have thought about too, although I am new to ski building and dont have the skill to try just yet. I would agree with you that the hardest thing is going to be not melting everything else. The right ballance of materials is key. For the viscosity issue, you might want to look at a produc...

yea, I would also like some details on that heat blanket? what type of foam did you use to hold the pressure?

I really like this method too, I use a very similar clamp press to make longboard skateboards and am able to put very dramatic bends in the deck (drop deck speed boards), much more than I can get with a vac bag. I have never seen a blatter used for skateboards in a manual press, definitely a great i...