formica topsheet

[skidesmond]

the fumes it out gases when it kicks are toxic. Always put any left over epoxy that is mixed up outside.

Good idea. I've never had that much epoxy left over, so I never realized how much heat it gives off. The epoxy I use is from QCM. It has almost no fumes, but I guess it can still give off toxic gases. It will definitely go outside next time. Thanks.

[falls]

Does anyone reuse their mixing cup/bowl from pair to pair.
On the kingswood skis video he seems to mix his whole batch up in what looks like a plastic mixing bowl. I find it hard to believe he throws one of them away for every pair of skis he makes. If that bowl was shiny polyethylene do you think any remnant set epoxy the next day would just slide/peel out of there easily and you could use the bowl again.
Just a thought. It seems a shame to use so many plastic cups.

[MontuckyMadman]

the kingswood guy eats allot of hokiepokie.

[falls]

[Richuk]

Polypropylene would be better

[OAC]

I heard before (OAC?) that epoxy will give off some heat as it sets but I had no idea it got that hot. (mixed way to much too)

Not that much heat..
But as richuk, polypropylene. I use old food bowl/cups. "PP" (see below)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

[skidesmond]

This Formica experiment is probably over BUT.... I was ordering epoxy from QCM today (http://www.qcminds.com) and went to there website to double check the epoxy (EMV-0049) and hardener (ECA-032) and I just realized when I mixed the epoxy/hardener I used a 2:1 ratio of resin to hardener instead of a 4:1 ratio.

Could that mistake have contributed to the Formica not adhering to the ski? I do have another piece for Formica....

[carnold]

Hi Falls. I use 2 litre ice cream containers (I get them new) after the epoxy has set I remove the set material with the compresses air blower. Comes off easy as. I mix 2 batches for each board of 420 grams. The 2 l container gives me thin layer in the bottom which helps prevent over heating as well!

[Richuk]

a small test piece between a G-clamp SD?

[MontuckyMadman]

This Formica experiment is probably over BUT.... I was ordering epoxy from QCM today (http://www.qcminds.com) and went to there website to double check the epoxy (EMV-0049) and hardener (ECA-032) and I just realized when I mixed the epoxy/hardener I used a 2:1 ratio of resin to hardener instead of a 4:1 ratio.

Could that mistake have contributed to the Formica not adhering to the ski? I do have another piece for Formica....

I'm surprised it even kicked at all with your ratio that far off.
Remember when DBS was off on his hardener and the whole thing fell apart out of the press?

[skidesmond]

When I layup my next skis (cheetahs, dachshunds) with the right ratio I'll take RichUKs' advice and layup a small sample and clamp it. Should have done that in the first place, duh!.

I think my last set of skis I used the wrong ratio too. I noticed that my hardener was being used up faster than the resin... Well they finished up ok. Live and learn.

[doughboyshredder]

This Formica experiment is probably over BUT.... I was ordering epoxy from QCM today (http://www.qcminds.com) and went to there website to double check the epoxy (EMV-0049) and hardener (ECA-032) and I just realized when I mixed the epoxy/hardener I used a 2:1 ratio of resin to hardener instead of a 4:1 ratio.

Could that mistake have contributed to the Formica not adhering to the ski? I do have another piece for Formica....

I'm surprised it even kicked at all with your ratio that far off.
Remember when DBS was off on his hardener and the whole thing fell apart out of the press?

I didn't use enough hardener. Using too much is not nearly as much of an issue. Just sets the epoxy off quicker usually. But, that is a big variance.