Longtime lurker, but am really intrigued by the honeycomb. I saw that Salomon added the honeycomb to their tips and tails in the Rocker 2 last season. I think they've added the honeycomb to replace the tip/tail spacers to provide more strength through the tip without adding too much weight. Not sure...

Just looking at the press I'm wondering about the vertical tubes that are holding the top from the bottom. Are you concerned about that at all? I'm just curious because I've never seen it done like that.

I'm guessing that the 3d base allows for there to be less contact width (new term???) which could allow the board to have better carving hardpack performance. Could allow the board to have 2 different turning radii. 1 in hard pack when the thinner portion of the base touches and 1 in powder where th...

found a blog with a guy building capped skis in an interesting way. he presses a traditional ski but without a topsheet, cuts the flashing, bevels the sidewalls and then applies the topsheet in a second pressing. the cap is achieved simply by putting foam sheets on top of the laminate. here's his b...

Awesome!

I completely agree, unfortunately the "perfect ski" to me isn't attainable without precise 3d cnc'd templates. Thus trying to cut corners Maybe I need to get some "basic" builds under my belt before I start working on my dream ski.

Like Nate said, 17 inches will give you around 430mm of working room. If you're building a pair of skis wider than that... let me know where you ski, I'd love to move there.

Today was not the worst day skiing I've ever had. Sunny, deep powder in the Alpental backcountry, basically nobody on the chairlifts. Here is one from me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia2OjRkuRa4 And here is one from Kevin (he's also on homemade skis): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC_93D6MZdY&a...

Thanks Matt! Like most people I'm probably trying to over think the initial build and need to just build and learn from trial and error.

twizzstyle wrote:Richuk was getting steel templates cut out by lasers or water jets if I recall correctly. And was using the cutoffs in the cassette, which is pretty killer.

That's a damn good idea.

Thanks Desmond! Though I'd like to have a shop like that one day, I don't know if cnc'd cassettes will be in the budget from day 1. We'll see if I can find a local that will do it for cheap, beer or free.

Never mind, I think you're right that they are using the rubber top to get the cap in a press. I wonder if you could use a softer rubber that would conform without having the shape cut into it.

That rubber top mold was used for a vacuum setup though correct? Sorry the pictures are quite confusing as it seems they are going through their standard press method as well as a vacuum setup to create the cap ski (not speaking french probably doesn't help). I was hoping to find a way to use rubber...

Appreciate the reply! Eventually I'll get to building a press and trying it out, wish I could contribute more in the meantime.

Been reading these forums for what seems like ages now. Would have liked to start building a press and learn hands on like many of you have done, however I live in North Carolina and would like to be closer to a ski hill to test prototypes other than the 15 days a year I spend out west. I ride Armad...