Black Tuesday - ?? how has it been?

General Discussion
1

Since I am an not an expert craftsmen as most of you are carving foam/eps/??? -

I am curious as to what you all think of Black Monday a (almost) year later.

Is it better or worse or the same?..

Have you been forced to try new things with a high failure rate?

Any other comments etc.

Thanks to all in advance for your replys…if any…

landloked

fff

2

Initially I thought, shoot this sucks.

But lets see NOW:

  • no more Clark foam monopoly

  • there’s actually R&D happening now, minus the Clark blackball penalty

  • more blank brand choices

  • less TDI in the air

  • the potential reduction of styrene emissions

  • a potential healthier work evironment for board builders (more epoxy)

  • an acceleration of new technology introductions (more product choices)

  • PU blanks still available for those who chose to build and ride them

I say, good riddence!

3

Was that actually a year ago, wow time flies.

I’m glad it happened, I’ve learnt a lot more since I’ve been looking at hot wiring my own blanks, if Clarke hadn’t closed I probably would have stuck to the high tolerance stuff.

4

It’s worked out fine for me as well. I’ve switched completely over to EPS/Epoxy boards and have learned a helluva lot more about board building in the last year than I ever would have imagined.

Adios Clark!

5

It’s been a year already, wow! You know, I just shaped one of the leftover Clark blanks yesterday… I was reflecting on the last year the whole time. The initial shock. The hours spent talking on the phone to customers, friends, and especially all the people who “knew a guy” that could supply some foam. The dead spot- when all the blanks started to run out (we usually have around 200+ in stock) then- the crap foam started to show, all the stuff that was rushed out to fill the gap- twisted stuff from overseas, foam that no longer cut like butter, the grainy stuff from Walker, the end of custom rockers and stringers… and especially the dense EPS. Using a bigger planer (Rockwell 653 spiral blade) just because the blanks were so thick and crude, that using the hitachi just took way to long anymore. Now things are starting to flow- the US blanks are beginning to trickle in,(is it just me or is it a bit soft?) and the AUS foam is really nice (so hard, but light)- but my shaping has been changed forever. As I cut through that Clark yesterday- an 8’5 A Superblue, with a cedar stringer… the smell of the cedar filled my room- I couldn’t help but think about all those trick 3, 4, 6 stringered blanks that Clark made that we just don’t see anymore, at least in any quantity. What a shame. And man that Clark foam shaped nice. We still are picking through alot of random stuff- but at least now there is light at the end of the tunnel. -Carl

6

It’s forced me to be more resourseful. No more one stop shopping, you have to plan out. Blank from this source, glass from this source, epoxy from this source, fin box from this source.

Blanks are ok, lot’s of hype, nor many filling the promises. I still miss the Clark rockers. But I’m starting to get into EPS/Epoxy which I would have never done before the Black Clark thing.

Here’s a question for the US guys: I’ve tried Just Foam, Buford, HomeBlown, Peitree (sucked) and Excel (sucked) and Segway EPS, which do you perfer?

Jay

7

I’m having as much fun as ever - been making boards out of leftover Clarks (in the middle of an 8’6" gun now), Enova (takes color a bit funny but otherwise they worked ok for me), Excel (got some for real cheap, not as bad as Resinhead’s experience), Walker (a bit heavy but I liked it anyway), and Rhyno (my fave so far of the new PU blanks, sweet stuff).

Plus balsa boards (also in the middle of an 8’6" gun).

Tried EPS did not like it. I’m glad others do but not my thing.

I agree with Carl though, I miss the custom stringers from Clark a lot…

8

In Australia I never had any problem although the export market picked up the 20 boards I did didn’t have any hold up. I know the manufacturers of foam had there hands full but that was good for bussiness .

9

Glad he closed, made me get off my butt and and get “creative” again. I would not have met Ken, Segway blanks, and made boards that look like this.

10

Its nice hearing Ken get his time in the sunshine! He’s a good guy and treats you right (which really seems to be a rarity).

11

I went this weekend to pick up Surfing to see all of the fuss about the shapers tree.

I then see that they have asked the same question. They are even having some kind of a poll for answers.

I was unaware of this and apologize for asking a mundane question. I do appreciate all of those who answered my question. and those of you who read the post.

But to kind of wrap it up for me, with what I read here - and in (gasp) Surfing, it seems that

  1. most shapers are in a way better place.

  2. we have a better chance of going greener.

  3. the monoply is gone.

  4. next year should even be better.

thanks again and keep mowing

landloked

fff

12

One year has already gone by!!!

As some of you might already know, Surfblanks America has been setting up the factory for the past seven months…taking our time and doing it right! Today, I can announce that our website has launched and we are now in the position to take orders! Check it out at surfblanksamerica.com