How is it that in the heart of the surfing Mecca a company with such a bad environmental safety and employment record can be so successful? We are talking about a company that would love to be the next Grubby, using their influence to shut down any competition in the islands. What people should be wondering is how do they manage to get their entire product on to one container after another without the proper tariffs to transport such product? Why is it that such a company suppresses the local workers with low pay, in-house loans at high interest rates, and exposure to hazardous chemicals without proper HAZMAT training or education? Maybe the next time your paying upwards $6-$10 a cut yard for cloth; you should ask why a cloth that costs $1.15 per yard is marked up so high? It’s not the cost of shipping because they aren’t paying tariffs on some of these items that they put in the back of a 40 foot container, the front packed so tight that it makes it difficult to get to during an inspection. Don’t fret the cycle will continue and they will maintain that they are doing nothing wrong?
Howzit sessions, It appears you are meaning Fiberglass Hi… Just where did you get this info on their safety and employment practices if you are referring to F.H… I ahve dealt with them for many years and their employees seem to really like their jobs there. When it comes to pricing their products they have always had competetive prices. The prices you are quoting on fiberglass would be for cut lengths and every materials company sells those for more, but since I only buy by the roll they give ma a great price per yard. The last roll I bought only cost $1.85 a yard for 4oz warp glass. The owner Ted is a great guy to buy from and he is always looking for deals so he can pass them on to the consumer. Plus he does a loy of reserch when it comes to obtaining good quality products. Since they are the only show in town thsy could really ream us but they don’t.Totally can’t agree with you on this post. Aloha,Kokua
Hello Mr Sessions, and welcome to Swaylocks.
Sincerely, usually i don’t like this kind of posts that throw those kind of accusations over a company without any evidence of proof. I like this posts even less when the writer doesn’t show his true identity, in fact most of them sound like the writer is a guy with a similar company trying to ruin his neighbor’s reputation. And i like those post less and less when they’re the first post of that new user with hidden identity.
Mr Sessions, i like to know what’s “behind the scenes” on our industry, but what kind of light are you trying to ad with this thread?, i mean, all i can read is that you think that there’s a certain company that has good selling prices because they cheat… but you don’t really have any proof. Please, help me to better understand your post.
Yes, I’m a newbie…Yes, my identity is hidden…and No, I’m not a competitor! But I do have many friends working for said “Company” and I’m happy that you’re getting great prices. I will not try to argue that particular point.
What I am trying to shed some light on is how employees are treated. Would you buy a product from a company because the price is right? Probably so, but would you by that product, with the great price, knowing that it runs a sweatshop? Stay with me here because I’m not saying that this said “Company” is a sweatshop. What I am saying is that they treat their employees like crap! How do you think the resin gets in the can, where the epoxy comes from, who packages the catalyst, who packages the fillers? It doesn’t come from the manufacture in its pretty little container. Employees package these products all the way down to the little catalyst bottles.
Now you would think that responsible employers would properly train their employee’s on the hazardous materials that they are handling and how to properly protect themselves. This just so happens to not be the case, there is no hazardous materials training or education! Epoxy is made in house, mixed with several hazardous additives. Do you know what long term exposure to these types of chemicals can do to your body? Maybe you should shed some light on that! Do you know the long-term effects of inhaling fiberglass particulates, fillers, organic peroxides, and resin vapors? What about all the chemicals that are used to promote resins such as cobalt and styrene?
I’m not trying to tell you what to do but I think people have a right to know what kind of company they are buying from.
Knowledge is power and proof is in the puddin’!
Sounds like the employees need to organize…
union shop?
bitchin that will make the prices cheaper
mud slinging is a fine pastime
perhaps this will lead to the fiberglass to go away like clark did
bitchin.
my identity is face up
thanks for the crank call
sessions?
you are by far the finest
example of a progressive
forthright individual
and a credit to your species.
no insult intended to other
lower life forms.
thanks for the heads up
I’ll keep it in mind
the next time I’m at home depot
and I’m out of 355 tape
''dutch is that the right number
da yellow one?
roughed the new u.s. styro 1.7
cant wait to see how light
it comes out…
…ambrose…
somebody
stop these run on sentences
Howzit sessions, What I am interested in knowing is are you referring to the company as a whole or just one of their 4 stores. The owner is based at the Honolulu store and Ted doesn't seem like a person who would put his employees in any danger from exposure to harmful chemicals.Plus that would open him up to lawsuits like Clark had to deal with. Like I said in the previous post the employees I have dealt with over the years are glad to work there and in 12 years I know of only 2 employees who have quit. One got an cushy government job and the other decided to be a stay at home mom. As for the other stores, the one on Maui gets it's products from Honolulu and they are already put in their sized containers so they don't do any mixing of chems. Now if you are referring to the stores on the mainland, it'e possible Ted doesn't know what is actually going on and maybe he needs to be informed of these problems. Between Ambrose and myself we have at least 80 or more years of expierience in the surfboard business so we definitly know the downside of using the chemicals and what can happen when not handled properly. Aloha,Kokua
As someone who has critisized FGH harshly at one time; I have to come to their defense on this one. I bought blanks and materials from Wade when their store was in SB(now in Ventura) and was very happy with price and service. I liked the fact that they would make up short rolls of cloth for backyarders. Alberto and James have been at the Maui location for at least a few years each and have always been fair with me. The only blip on the radar screen was the Clark demise and subsequent shortage. Maybe it could have been handled a little better, but with the variety of blanks available today that is now all ancient history. I think if you were to step out back of any of the supply houses at the right time you would more than likely find somebody pouring resin or catalyst into retail containers. I witnessed the very same recently on the Mainland at a FGH competitors’. Guess what though? He had on safety glasses, chemical gloves and a respirator. The FGH employees that I’ve had contact with seem to be happy and well trained. Or at least they bring knowledge with them that they have acquired in other positions in the surfboard industry. They seem to be long term employees and don’t move on to other employment unless they are “moving up”
disgruntled ex-employee, perhaps? I dont think that everyone is so in the dark about who you are…
I no longer work for FH, i quit a month or so ago under great terms…i left because it was time, not because the company did ANYTHING wrong…so after that little disclaimer:
FH is not a sweat shop…people are paid for the jobs that they do, they applied for these jobs, its not like they were forced into slave-driver style catalyst packaging; thats a bit out of line. People who are around catalyst and resins know that the chemicals are bad for them, it would be pretty blind of someone who is working with it to not know that you need to be protected while working with the stuff. The company provides masks, gloves, goggles and good ventilation to whoever is packaging at the time…they even give you back braces for lifting whatever youve got to lift…did you guys in SC not get those?
And as someone who actully DID the physical chemical adding to the FH epoxy, i know that it comes in a tightly sealed container, that is poured about two inches away from the 3" mouth of a drum of epoxy, then mixed up by a long mixer hooked up to a compressor, and left alone for a half hour or so…that kind of exposure isnt breaking the law or doing anything out of line, i guess the only safer thing you could do would be put the person in a haz-mat suit with a fresh air system, and syphon the chemicals into the drum of epoxy though a sealed tube with a vaccuum? seems excessive to me if the person is being careful and wearing protection.
Ill defend FH because they faithfully employed me for two years and provided 99% of my education and introduction into the surfboard building industy…it is a good company that runs a tight ship…thats about it…thanks 
Howzit surferguy, Thanks for setting things straight. Aloha,Kokua
Sessions
Normally, I would not post anonymously but in this case, what the hell. My company is a competitor of FH and you are correct! Chemicals have long term effects. Did you not read the labels? So… what exactly are you attempting to accomplish? Are you viciously attacking composite related industries or just FH?
I too have friends in all locations of FH and not one has ever mentioned being treated like “crap”. This business is stressful, competitive and requires employees willing to be part of the solution, not the problems.
Over this past year I have heard from our customers and employees how you trash talk the “said company". If you had only spent less time bitchin in relation to inadequate pay or how poorly you are treated and spent more time doing your job, FH would not be closing its doors in Santa Cruz. My employees, our customers and vendors have heard it all. You’re pathetic!
By the way, I do know for a fact that Ted, Wade, Luis and Alberto have always been extremely strict when related to safety of their employees.
Sessions (S.H.) you owe this company an apology.
I bid you farewell, for now.
Sincerely,
Resin Man
Sessions you make anonymous, and unsubstantiated accusations which can only be characterized as cowardly. What bad environmental record? Do you have any evidence of citations? Regarding employees, having dealt with FH it seems that their employees stay forever and are quite happy to be employed by Fiberglass Hawaii. I admit I have only met ALL of their Honolulu and Ventura staff, so I don’t know what goes on in Maui or Santa Cruz. However, I find your accusations specious at best.
Tariffs are applied to international trade not domestic, they have nothing to do with domestic shipping costs. Having worked in shipping, containers are supposed to be filled, what’s your point?
Your unfortunate rant sounds like the ravings of a disgruntled employee or a sleazy competitor. One must ask why someone would anonymously sign up to a forum for the sole purpose bad mouthing an industry leader.
Sessions
Normally, I would not post anonymously but in this case, what the hell. My company is a competitor of FH and you are correct! Chemicals have long term effects. Did you not read the labels? So… what exactly are you attempting to accomplish? Are you viciously attacking composite related industries or just FH?
I too have friends in all locations of FH and not one has ever mentioned being treated like “crap”. This business is stressful, competitive and requires employees willing to be part of the solution, not the problems.
Over this past year I have heard from our customers and employees how you trash talk the “said company". If you had only spent less time bitchin in relation to inadequate pay or how poorly you are treated and spent more time doing your job, FH would not be closing its doors in Santa Cruz. My employees, our customers and vendors have heard it all. You’re pathetic!
By the way, I do know for a fact that Ted, Wade, Luis and Alberto have always been extremely strict when related to safety of their employees.
Sessions (S.H.) you owe this company an apology.
I bid you farewell, for now.
Sincerely,
Resin Man
Now theres a response! i cant imagine that coming from anyone less expected, that’s gotta mean something!
i beleive an apology would be necessary, but i think everyone here sees through the crap…glad to hear people sticking up for a company that does its best to help out!
-Ryan
Ryan…good bottom line response…esp. knowing that you worked in Ventura and would lnow the scoop. Wade is knowledgeable and responsible to say the least, and like Kokua, I know what I’m talking about and have been treated in a first rate manner by knowledgeable staff.
Ted has a lot vested in his company and he has been at it for a very long time. You don’t send two daughters through college by being a half assed businessman. You don’t become a major supplier of resin to Oz (and Burford) by not knowing regulations in shipping.
I will add something else, and this is not to dismiss the severity of handling chemicals that we use in the industry, but it is a point about personal responsibility: you usually invite the pressures you endure. We don’t live in North Korea, I don’t know anyone forced to work at FH or a similar operation. Perhaps the same person complaining about working at FH would find a reason to whine about getting carpal tunnel syndrom at an administrative job? There is always something for a whiner to whine about.
On a closing note, I’d like to offer a little insight to what the human body can actually take when it comes to exposure to unhealthy things. There are a group of folks out there that have the distinction of belonging to what they call the “5.0 club”…they have to have a BAC (Blood Alcohol Count) of at least 5.0 to belong to ‘the club’. These are hard core alcoholics that have ‘trained’ for many years to be part of a select group. The crazy thing about it is there are people in that group that have a higher percentage of alcohol than they do blood!
My point is that, anatomically, this shouldn’t even be possible but it is. The reason being that the human body has an incredible ability to adapt and survive. To quote Goldblum playing the statistician in “Jurassic Park”, …“life finds a way”. So in all our hysteria about being chemicalphobic, just remember that a whiff is just a whiff, and if a person in our industry is too stupid to protect themselves, maybe they didn’t have too much upstairs in the first place.
Sessions;
Your not the sharpest tool in the shed, I visited the great state of Hawaii
September 2003 for a holiday and to catch up with one of my suppliers. Ted is straight-up
and you can tell this when he speaks to you he looks you in the eye. He gave me the best price on the best tints in the world, uv stable products, the first to show me texalum
in all its various colours. And also gave me t-shirts for all the family to wear. So I would be very careful about badmouthing this respected gentlemen, someone will find you so be very,very careful were you hang shit. Surfers love life and the Style…
Kindest Regards Rod,,,
Finfektion
You are in the minority with your criticisms, nearly alone, in fact. They are a good outfit with reasonable pricing and strive to provide very good service. Ted is in a difficult business dealing with a sometimes motley group of customers and remains and has always been, in my experience, a fair and no-bullshit businessman. Tell your complaining friend to go get another job instead of running his/her mouth. No one is being force to work there and there’s a ton of jobs available. Don’t believe everything you hear.
Interesting how many people have come to Ted’s and FH’s defense here. That says all that needs to be said. Buh-bye.
What was the cloth like to work with? I’m curious as in NZ cloth is about three times that price.
Howzit deanbo, Stevens fiberglasss is great to work with. It is not to stiff or to limp and rails wrap really good. I’ve tried quite a few brands and it is my favorite.Aloha,Kokua