I’m in the process of buying the glassing materials for a 10’1" longboard and had the idea of glassing the bottom with carbon fiber and doing the deck with 6oz + 4oz. I really like the look of carbon fiber but it’s a little too expensive to do the whole board and I’d have to paint the top white because the black fiber gets way too hot during the day.
Has anyone had any experience with carbon + fiberglass? Is it even possible with a regular epoxy resin? I’m not sure about the heat expansion/contraction characteristics of carbon vs. glass, would using them both warp the board if exposed to extreme heat or cold? Also, would a single sheet of carbon on the bottom and 6oz + 4oz on the top be strong enough for a 10 footer?
I made my first board this last fall. I’ve been surfing on and (mostly) off lately. I searched the internet for design info and decided to make a 9’6" ‘nose’ rider. It is FANTASTIC! I used epoxy with 6oz ‘S’ glass top and bottom with a 3/4 deck patch of 5oz carbon. It is 19 lbs.
I used the carbon on top because (I think) that is where most of the weight, pressure dings, etc will end up.
Read somemore! There’s LOTS of good stuff here on Swaylocks and else where.
Thanks for the advice tridrles. The carbon bottom for the board I’m thinking about is really just a cosmetic touch. I never thought to put a deck patch on the top. Great idea! Have you noticed any increased resistance to dings and pressure cracks vs. other longboards you ride?
I surfed a Hobie 10’ noserider in the 60’s. 70’s untill this year it was a Herbie Fletcher 7’8" ‘fun’ board which I like VERY much but it was getting pretty old. this fall I got back into surfing and decided what I needed to do was make a ‘modern’ board, ie… epoxy/carbon fiber. I liked the first one sooo much that I made another. the second one turned out better cosmeticly, duh!
Pressure dings? The first one has one, not sure how I got it, on the nose (one layer of 6oz ‘S’ cloth. I’ve been dancing/falling on the carbon deck patch and it looks as good as new! I live in central california, near Santa Cruz, so can’t comment on bubbles, de-lams, etc. The only drawback that I can see is that if I leave it in the sun for long the wax melts, ha!
mxrider317, There are more expert opinions out there concerning glass deck and carbon bottom, but I know it’s not recommended to use carbon with poyesther, use epoxy. And don’t leave your board upside down in the sun, ouch!!!
Check the archives. Lots of good stuff. Mostly from G Loehr. I’m just finishing a LB withcarbon fiber rails using 4-inch carbon tape. A bear to work with, but so far so good. Watch out for black speacks on the foam from the CF, cut laps are very tough to do, and plan on an inlay covered by a pinline at the edge of the CF, as you will never get it looking clean otherwise. Also, be careful not to sand into the CF cloth (not forgiving like regular).
While carbon fiber can be difficult to work with, it has tremendous strength. We have been building hollow surfboards with the use of carbon and other arimid fibers. The use of carbon in multiple layers also adds to its strength properties. The addition of KEVLAR will increase the shear strength of the laminents. In order to minimize the weight, vacuum bagging is another process that ensures proper bond between the laminents.
I don’t know much about carbon fiber & Kelvar. We know its light and strong, thats good, we also know that it’s stiff. One thing that I do know is that surfboards need a fairly good amount of flex in different kinds of surf, hence the different kinds of stringers, types of wood, sizes & number of stringers, 1 stringer, 2 stringer, red stringer, blue stringer, placement of stringers, stringers that go halfway up the board or, no stringers. And then the weight of cloth, 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 12oz, etc. If you don’t believe me, put your board in the sanding rack and push down on it, check out how much it will flex, not only laterally but torsionally, twist. So i would be careful about the amount of flex carbon fiber gives (once again, I don’t know much about this fabric). It might make a board so stiff it feels like a lightweight concrete and steel plank. I think carbon fiber would be good for a gun or long board gun type board because of the sheer psi put on the board when getting drilled, and doing bottom turns and what not.
Just another theory, as it’s really more personal preferences than anything else
I like the flex in poly boards, as I’m old.
I NEED the flex in big wave boards, for surf from overhead up, anything with carbon basically gives you a rough ride, and stands a good chance of breaking.
“bend before it breaks” has stood the test of time.
For surf over DOH, carbon is doing the rider a dis-service. Just my point of view, I’m sure I could be counterpointed.
Carbon Deck, Glass bottom. Carbon will be the most effective woven material you can use to eliminate denting. Glass will actually be better against fractures. Especially S glass. Using a very stiff resin with the carbon (2000) will give you the best dent resistance. Using a more flexible resin (2020) with glass will give better ding resistence.
I’m with LeeDD on this one. I don’t like the feel of the carbon boards. You can make them flex, but it doesn’t feel right. I don’t know about on a longboard…maybe flex is irrelevant.