Ski Builders Forum

Many years ago I used a heated press for sled runners. It consisted of an insulated box with three heat lamps and a snap disc to limit the temperature to 180 degrees F. After many runners it began to deteriorate. I replaced it with a steel press and used cold setting epoxy. Now I see the heat strip used with a tempeature controller. I would like to regain the strength qualities of the heat set epoxy. What advantages does this heat strip system have over my old heated box? Does the heat strip method need an insulted cover of some sort to retain the heat?

bwillis wrote:What advantages does this heat strip system have over my old heated box? Does the heat strip method need an insulted cover of some sort to retain the heat?

The only real advantage is space. You'd have to build a giant box to go over an entire press. The heat blanket is just another layer in the layup. You also get "instant" heat - it might take the blanket a minute to get up to temperature, where as with heat lamps heating a box it would take a lot longer.

you can cook a set of skis in 20 min with the right epoxy and 2 blankets.

I cook my skis for 1 hour with 1 bottom blanket. Might be over kill but I am trying to heat evenly from the bottom only.