VSC 2011 and on

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:19 am

Well, I've been picking away at skis for a couple years now. Finally upgraded things from an abused wooden press to a neat-o steel one.

Basically I'm making a place holder as my resolution this year is to actually start one of these threads instead of only posting on Google+

I'll be back in awhile with some pics!

- Chris

OAC · Post by **OAC** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:02 am

Oh! A new journal!!

skidesmond · Post by **skidesmond** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:08 pm

Hey Chris! Lets see some new skis from that fancy new press

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:07 am

Fancy Schmancy

I would have had some pictures last night, buuttt my epoxy crystalized. So now I get to heat up and mix epoxy tonight... Boooo.

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:46 pm

Ok so I've got a few pics and I guess I'll go from here.

This was my first press. All wood. I built the top and bottom beams by gluing and bolting 3/4 advantec together vertically. It weights about 450-ish without the molds in. I've got some more pics floating around elsewhere that I'll put up when I've got time to go get em.

It worked pretty well for about 15 skis or so. And it sounded like an old barn floor when being inflated, cracking and groaning the whole time. It's still standing but I would recommend against it without way more supports in the middle for strength.

Made these on this press.

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:54 pm

Soo after a season of working in a barn (a really cold barn) and pressing in a basement (still kinda cold) I decided I wanted to actually get into ski building a little more. So I decided to shell out for some work space.

Built a new press with heat and all that fun stuff

Decided to search for ISO's 8210 top sheet as I personally feel crowns product is not that great. Found it and it's shiney and more durable...

It's also more clear.

And Brazen Enjoys FIRE

skidesmond · Post by **skidesmond** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:18 pm

AND THEN.......

doughboyshredder · Post by **doughboyshredder** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:52 pm

nice prayer flags.

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:39 pm

doughboyshredder wrote:nice prayer flags.

Thanks! I've got another smaller set to string up too. Just haven't got around too it

So I had 2 jugs of epoxy crystalize out of no where. Thanks to Rob I was able to figure out what had happened in about 30 minutes. So I fixed the issue with a hot bath of water for about 2 hours and it's almost 100% liquid again.

So since that got taken care of I made a pair of skis earlier tonight.

twizzstyle · Post by **twizzstyle** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:11 pm

How are you doing the graphics? Is it subbed on the topsheet, or just rice paper?

Regardless, they look great!

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:49 am

Thanks Twiz!

I do them on an Epson 1400 with the driver hack for length found around here. I'll go back and dig it up to repost because it's damn useful.

I print on 27lb matte paper at 240/300dpi. I was printing on 35lb, but can't find it in a 13" wide roll yet. I just make sure its pressed onto the top layer of glass real well and then put a skim coat of epoxy on top of that before laying up the top sheet.

One of the tricks to little or no bubbles is to make sure you let the ink off gas for 24 hours before you lay it up. Otherwise you can get funky white spots.

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:45 pm

How much more opaque does the 35 lb paper appear after pressing compared to the 27?

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:48 am

It's pretty much the same unless you are using a super light color or all white on the 27lb. If they are both saturated with ink it looks the same. I just feel the 35lb has better color density. Just my opinion though.

No more pics until tonight. Got side tracked yesterday then hit the gym.

infinityskis · Post by **infinityskis** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 3:26 pm

did you have heat in your wood press

amidnightproject · Post by **amidnightproject** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:31 am

I did not. It was just ambient room temp. Which on a non zero degree winter day in an unheated basement translated to about 55F. It took 7 hours for a good cure on the epoxy using Entropy room temp cure. Most of the time I would put the ski in and just go to bed. Wake up and its done.

Ski Builders Forum

Ski Builders Forum

VSC 2011 and on

VSC 2011 and on