Hey Josh, Your bolt set-up at the ends of your bladder scares the crap out of me. Over time, the fire hose could work it's way free of the angle iron pieces, and it could release with a lot of force. Could be ugly, even deadly. I suggest that you bolt through the steel and the hose in at least 3 pl...

Back again :) A few updates, firstly i've put the clamps on the firehose and added the valves, as well as a pressure gauge so i know what i'm pressing at (you can't always trust those compressors 8) ) I looped the ends over a metal bar and clamped together with a silicon gel used on the inside. It's...

Got some more stuff done today, mainly the top mold. Also I've ordered the materials for the first pair of skis :D Unfortunately boardbuildingsupplies had no VDS :( so i have a few questions, firstly how important is the vds? (actually i think i know the answer to this, very important :| ) Secondly ...

I think i'm best to use a cat track, otherwise the hose may push on the sides as well as the top, this could cause the base to become concave, (if you understand what i'm trying to say.) The cat tack would mean the base would be perfectly flat which is what i'm aiming for :) I think an al. cat track...

Finally another update, i've been working on a few things. Firstly i've got a steel press :D it's similar to the design i showed above, but uses 8" x 8" i-beams. Though it has a 12" gap between the two main beams. It's untested at the moment, but it should be ok. It's held together wi...

Right, I've got little to show you right now but I have taken some big jumps forward in the process. Firstly i have a friend, with plenty of metal working experience creating the press. I gave him my designs and he is pretty much going to stick with the original dimensions. Secondly i have managed t...

Hi, thanks for the encouragement, it's good to know i'm heading in the right direction. OAC- I think my mold has roughly a 175mm radius at the front and 200mm at the tail. But i'd have to check on snow-cad for the true dimensions :) Skidesmond- i wish i could have a 2 ski press, however i am more co...

First proper update :D I spent a few hours this week trying to decide on a relatively simple, easy to use press. I am currently settled on using an i-beam press because, despite the high cost, i think i would like to be able to load the press from the side. I designed my first press in sketch up. (s...

Hi, having taken the leap and decided to make some skis i'm now going to need some firehose :) I am also in the uk and am interested in buying some of this 9" stuff if there is any left? At the moment i don't have any materials i could barter with like you mention. But i will, no doubt, be plac...

Right, having been a lurker for a good 2 years i've finally take the jump and decided to just do this :D I've read virtually every post here 10 times and think i'm ready to invest the time and money. I came across this great site while building some wooden skis a few years ago, and decided that afte...

Those are some pretty wide skis. looks like you will have some fun with them.

wow...

I wish we got snow like that in the Uk, the 3" this week wasn't quite enough.

Hi david,

Having just started on my own vacuum press for some skis its good to see i'm not the only Brit trying. However i'm not in london but in the midlands around 30mins from Birmingham.

Best of luck making those skis.

Josh