Ski Builders Forum

Has anyone removed and replaced top sheets on their skis? I have a pair of armadas that have great bases but the top sheet it crumbling apart... I was considering grinding of the old top sheet and trying to do a cloth/ptex overlay.. Any advice or write-ups done on this subject? I wasn't able to find anything...


Thanks,

Did you see the one where kam ripped off an old topsheet and put on a new one? I think it was a bonding issue and made the topsheet easy to remove.
I would think with heavy abrading/sanding and cleaning your idea would be no problem.

no never saw that... thanks for the reply

Peel it. I used a 3 inch pipe after peeling back a section of topsheet clamped to the tube. In this case the top sheet was bonded very well, but in a late night layup had grabbed a single layer matte finish top sheet. When I went to peel the protective layer of my usual material it wouldn't peel. Duh!. I would have left it on, but I had already hacked up part of the top sheet. It took a lot off force but it did peel off. Just roll it up onto the pipe. Large factories have reesheeted skis for the new year look for years. Good Luck

I've removed veneer topsheets/composite layer on skis that came out too stiff.
I used a thickness planer to remove the middle section of the ski. I then used a belt sander to get rid of the rest of the topsheet/composites on the tips/tails.
This method took part of the core in the middle section and it sacrificed my planer blades. I did get a softer ski in the end.
You would have more control if you bought a ton of sanding belts and just used a belt sander to get rid of your topsheets. If you are careful you could keep most of your fiberglass. I'm not sure how a belt sander would work when removing that much plastic. Carefully scraping with a metal blade and a heat gun might yield better results.
This would be a chance to take off the fiberglass and give new life to your skis with a new layer of carbon stringers and fiberglass under your new topsheets.