Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:32 pm
$40 a topsheet + discount for quantity - I would go with CODA for sure. I think ben_mtl has a guy in Eastern canada that has doen stuff for him before too (?). However, if you can get someone local up to speed it may work out well in the long run, but probably a bit of teething issues in the short term.
I think ISOsport are the way to go for PBT and nylon topsheet material. From all I have read on here subbing UHMWPE is a bit of an ordeal.
I talked to a kiteboard maker in QLD, Australia who has made their own subbing press. Needs to be hot, but I recall that the pressure isn't needing to be excessive (maybe 30PSI?). Just enough to make everything flat and ensure good contact between the printed paper and the plastic. He is subbing to PBT. He also told me something about using an added piece of nylon 'paper' to absorb any moisture during pressing. He then said "you'll see what I mean if you don't". Not sure how relevant this is but he made it sound a bit like it was a trade secret. The inks and transfer sheet are pretty easy to come by from the research I have done.
The local sublimater should have good knowledge of the process, but you might go through a bit of topsheet in tests before you get it right.
In terms of masking the topsheets once they're cooked it is pretty much like applying contact paper to a book.
Usually the film comes on a roll that sits on a stand on the table. You pull it out and lay it on the topsheet then use a roller or squeege to deal with any air bubbles. You definitely want a "clean" room for this as any dust under this film will dent your tops during pressing. My last pair of skis I did this masking with contact paper and found it was really a good idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAAYIeDWQYQ
some good utube vids from never summer
2min 30 sec in they go to their graphics place. They actually have a machine that rolls the masking film on automatically.
I think ISOsport are the way to go for PBT and nylon topsheet material. From all I have read on here subbing UHMWPE is a bit of an ordeal.
I talked to a kiteboard maker in QLD, Australia who has made their own subbing press. Needs to be hot, but I recall that the pressure isn't needing to be excessive (maybe 30PSI?). Just enough to make everything flat and ensure good contact between the printed paper and the plastic. He is subbing to PBT. He also told me something about using an added piece of nylon 'paper' to absorb any moisture during pressing. He then said "you'll see what I mean if you don't". Not sure how relevant this is but he made it sound a bit like it was a trade secret. The inks and transfer sheet are pretty easy to come by from the research I have done.
The local sublimater should have good knowledge of the process, but you might go through a bit of topsheet in tests before you get it right.
In terms of masking the topsheets once they're cooked it is pretty much like applying contact paper to a book.
Usually the film comes on a roll that sits on a stand on the table. You pull it out and lay it on the topsheet then use a roller or squeege to deal with any air bubbles. You definitely want a "clean" room for this as any dust under this film will dent your tops during pressing. My last pair of skis I did this masking with contact paper and found it was really a good idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAAYIeDWQYQ
some good utube vids from never summer
2min 30 sec in they go to their graphics place. They actually have a machine that rolls the masking film on automatically.