I’m enjoying the education on flex from Bert and others. Building them thin, strong and flexible. I am ramping up for VacBagging now and hope.
But, in the meantime, I stumbled onto an experiment with a new board I am making. I got some 2 lb EPS for a big board blank but it wasn’t going to be wide enough for the big board. So I spent about a week phoning around the country to find some 4 lb foam to cut into the middle for the needed width. I found it and had it shipped in 2-inch width. So I’m going to have a board with a 2 -inch 4 lb stringer. That 4 lb stuff is hard and stiff. Wow.
SO anyway, it got me thinking about managing flex with higher density foam stringers. Part of my vac bag project will be to experiment with high density foam stringers in various positions. I have a block of 1 lb for the cores.
I’m thinking that if guys are making their own blanks anyway, why not build with 2 or 4 inch high density EPS stringers. Or maybe two in the “A” position. Or maybe a pair on the rails. It will cut with a hotwire and should shape easy enough.
Is this dumb idea number 47? Any ideas to enhance this?
BTW, I am really impressed with the high density EPS. I saw Greg Loehr’s all 4 pound board with single 4 oz top and bottom at the Expo. Very impressive. Lightest board I ever held.
Greg, I think it’s yet another way to skin that poor old cat of ours. I’m sure it will work - not all that different than a d-cell stringer, really, is it? I did a board (10’) with 1# EPS and three 1/2" d-cell stringers. It seemed fine - not too heavy, still flexy like a, well, like a shaped blank, not floppy like all 1#, not too stiff like a clark classic with 3 redwoods - I can’t tell you how it surfs with glass on it because I covered it with a balsa skin
There are probably hundreds of combinations of foam, glass, resin, skin, and stringer materials, many of which will produce light, strong boards with attractive flex characteristics…but only you can decide what combination is best for you from the perspectives of local supply, cost, durability, toxicity, appearance…
And for the Swaylocks answer, short form: Build it, surf it, take some photos, and tell us about it
There are probably hundreds of combinations of foam, glass, resin, skin, and stringer materials, many of which will produce light, strong boards with attractive flex characteristics…but only you can decide what combination is best for you from the perspectives of local supply, cost, durability, toxicity, appearance…
This is the whole key to composites! You’re not stuck with only one option. However, it really requires you to know how you want to surf and whats important to you.
