Ski Builders Forum

The wetting out looks great. I'm not sure whether you need to be too concerned about the uniformity of the resin prior to pressing. If you are, then it simply a matter of squeezing the top of the cup to make a spout and doing a couple of runs up and down the fabric.

More broadly, (hijacking the thread a bit) I would suggest that we have all missed a big step during press construction - at least its not been mentioned. No-one appears to calibrate their press prior to use. Ideally the approach is to use a blank, but if not, the first thing everyone should do, once their first set of skis have seen the snow, is to cut them up tip to tail - 3cm cross-sections.

You will then know:

- whether the press is delivering a consistent pressure, tip to tail, side to side,
- confirm the thickness of the laminate i.e. too much or too little pressure (broadly speaking),
- whether air is getting trapped,
- whether epoxy is getting trapped,
- whether fabrics, vds etc are moving around in excess epoxy,
- whether parts are moving laterally,
- whether there are gaps between parts
- whether the rebate is too wide to narrow, etc

More is to be learnt, once you look at cross-sections via a USB micro-scope $20.00 or so.

Just a thought, not mandatory )

Oh yeah - cutting is a bit tricky. The ski needs to be clamped in place etc. Cut the edges and then think about cutting the laminate.

Most of this you can do without cutting if u use transparent topsheet and base

4 out of 9 can be done. Not sure what you have in mind if you want to confirm whether the pressure in consistently applied - the main functional purpose of the press.

Sure its better to cut up, but how many of us like to cut up nice boards

Me it helped a lot to start transparent (with vaac). Could see movements, trapped resin, dry spots, air, thickness of laminate (limited of course)...

I would say except point 1 and partly point 2 you can evaluate the others going transparent.

If you do/plan to do bigger scale of boards your idea makes sense, otherwise its a cash/budget related problem for many people

Option 1. Make a press (vacuum doesn't count btw )))) and press away!

No-one is required to do this, and I'll admit, for those who just enjoy keeping it simple - carry on, why spoil the fun.

Option 2. Make a press and test its performance using a blank.

What should the blank look like?

- Full length core - ideally tip/tail?
- Base material
- Two piece edge set, running length only
- Clear VDS, apparently someone is making clear VDS
- Base material - in place of topsheet

None of the above need to be ski shaped, except the core, that needs to be profiled and ideally dried down to (towards) 6% moisture content.

Benefits:

- First layup anyone ever does will be a guaranteed success. Important information will be captured and available to the forum. No doubt or question about it
- Any questions arising as a result of the first layup can be answered by the forum
- Any issue with the press can be dealt with and fixed - no more imaginary faults
- Second layup will use less epoxy, close to what is required
- Much less epoxy will be used long term, a real cost saving.
- The layup procedure with reflect what is required of it. Issues fixed, time saved, exposure to epoxy much reduced
- More time on your board, which will be better by design and less time spent in the workshop.

And the downside is what?

Clear vds?