New Skis in New Zealand

[Freshlines]

Hey all,
Big thank you to everyone on this forum, the amount of info and knowldge here is amazing.

So I have started to join the ranks of ski builders,

At this stage I am building a press a la mongo style....



Unloading the steel.



Cutting


Bottom Welded








The frame is made from 50 x50mm x3mm box and is fully welded.
The fire hose has arrived today, so hopefully on the weekend I can start on that.

I plan on using bamboo cores.

At this stage I am trying to find a good cat track solution, even with a good mates rates deal the cat track alone is looking like $1500.00
Anyone got any good ideas?

At this stage I wont be using a heat blanket $ and also the Epoxy that I have found indicates that heat curing doesn't increase strength.

I would be grateful for comments,
Cheers
Ross.

[falls]

Looking good
Whereabouts in NZ are you building?

[artski]

I made my cattrack with 1by 1 tube steel and it works well, a little heavier than alum. but way less money than aluminum.

[falls]

$1500 seems like a huge amount for aluminium cat track.
Not $150? If it's $150 that's a good deal.

[Freshlines]

Thanks for the feed back,
I'm in Wellington.
$1500 is very expensive, thats what I thought. Will be investigating the steel option in the morning.

Is there anyone in NZ on here?
would be good to catch a beer and a yarn.

[chrismp]

looking great!

just one question for all you guys with this kind of press frame: what are you doing to keep the bolt holes from corroding? just paint or anything special?

[falls]

I'm not doing anything to stop corrosion in the bolt holes. Not seeming to be a problem.
My whole press frame is painted with rust inhibiting paint, but any paint you put in the bolt holes just cracks out when you use the bolts.
You could oil the holes I guess.

There are a few guys on here from NZ. Richie is one making skis/boards - can't remember the username.
PS. If you're going to spend $1500, you can give me $700 and I'll fly over from Melbourne with an aluminium cat track for you Pretty sure mine was a bit over $200 and the shop had an automated cutting machine to cut everything to length.