Polycarbonate top-sheet
Moderators: Head Monkey, kelvin, bigKam, skidesmond, chrismp
Polycarbonate top-sheet
Hi, has anyone tried using polycarbonate as a top-sheet? I've found a local supplier in my place that has 1,5mm thick UV treated clear polycarbonate sheets.
I found a couple posts saying PC bonds as well as ABS (or little better), so guess it could be a solution. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your time!
I found a couple posts saying PC bonds as well as ABS (or little better), so guess it could be a solution. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your time!
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If you're feeling real brave... I did some experiments with plexi-glass and acetone. It's in the forum somewhere. Not exactly sure what kind of plexiglass it was but it's the material used in screen doors, could have been a poly-carbonate.... Anyway, acetone melts the plexiglass. You could try coating your ski with that. In my experiments it would dry too fast. Then there's the dangers of acetone... Just don't get it on your skin and work in a well ventilated area.
Epoxy, poly-u or LPU (Linear Poly-u) al work over graphics or fabric.
Epoxy, poly-u or LPU (Linear Poly-u) al work over graphics or fabric.
mhmmm... sounds interesting, however it's gonna be my first pair ever :P how would you suggest doing that?skidesmond wrote:If you're feeling real brave... I did some experiments with plexi-glass and acetone. It's in the forum somewhere. Not exactly sure what kind of plexiglass it was but it's the material used in screen doors, could have been a poly-carbonate.... Anyway, acetone melts the plexiglass. You could try coating your ski with that. In my experiments it would dry too fast. Then there's the dangers of acetone... Just don't get it on your skin and work in a well ventilated area.
Epoxy, poly-u or LPU (Linear Poly-u) al work over graphics or fabric.
anyways, what I want it's just a transparent top-sheet... but not sure about the material and thickness.
YesAgustin wrote:You mean no top sheet at all?
I was thinking in using screen printed graphics and another layer on top of that.
So you say press with fabric on top and then varnish once removed from the press?
If this is your first pair, focus on the basic parts like aligning the core, attaching the edges, getting the tip/tail spacers in place, wetting the fibers etc...
Top sheet sometimes adds unwanted parameters like extra weight, extra stiffness if you don't know your material and it dosen't hurt to start with the simplest. Believe me.
But if you feel for trying other material don't hesitate! Try and test that's whats alot of this is about!
Good luck!
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LPU from System 3 dries clear, not cheap, around $60 a quart. Dries extremely hard and dries quickly. Apply 3-4 thin coats. You can also use automotive clear coat spray. Clear top sheets can be expensive and some are not real clear to begin with. Keep it simple for the first handful of skis.Agustin wrote:mhmmm... sounds interesting, however it's gonna be my first pair ever :P how would you suggest doing that?skidesmond wrote:If you're feeling real brave... I did some experiments with plexi-glass and acetone. It's in the forum somewhere. Not exactly sure what kind of plexiglass it was but it's the material used in screen doors, could have been a poly-carbonate.... Anyway, acetone melts the plexiglass. You could try coating your ski with that. In my experiments it would dry too fast. Then there's the dangers of acetone... Just don't get it on your skin and work in a well ventilated area.
Epoxy, poly-u or LPU (Linear Poly-u) al work over graphics or fabric.
anyways, what I want it's just a transparent top-sheet... but not sure about the material and thickness.
Keet it simple, that's what I want right now for my first pressings. I thought that a clear top-sheet would be a simple thing, but guess I'm wrong. So you say painting with polyurethane is my best choice right now?skidesmond wrote: LPU from System 3 dries clear, not cheap, around $60 a quart. Dries extremely hard and dries quickly. Apply 3-4 thin coats. You can also use automotive clear coat spray. Clear top sheets can be expensive and some are not real clear to begin with. Keep it simple for the first handful of skis.
Do you remember what have you used as top-sheet layer over your graphics in your first skis? Or you just didn't use graphics at all?