I am about ot purchase a balsa blank and was wandering if the glassing process with balsa is the same as with foam. Do you need the same weight of glass fibre etc… The point to using balsa is to make the board more environmentally friendly so if I do need to use cloth I would like to use bamboo or hemp. Does anyone know where you can get these? On the internet would be best or someone that ships to the UK as I live there. Thank you to anyone who can help. http://www.blasthawaii.com
I am about ot purchase a balsa blank and was wandering if the glassing > process with balsa is the same as with foam. Do you need the same weight > of glass fibre etc… The point to using balsa is to make the board more > environmentally friendly so if I do need to use cloth I would like to use > bamboo or hemp. Does anyone know where you can get these? On the internet > would be best or someone that ships to the UK as I live there. Thank you > to anyone who can help. I have had only one experience with balsa. What I’ve heard is that you neeed to seal the shaped blank before you glass it. I then e-mail a balsa shaper (at solidbalsa.com) and followed his advice to seal the board with a water based polyurethane wood sealant prior to bring it to the glass shop. I’ve also heard you can apply a coat of resin. Maybe someone more experienced, (Jim Phillips) could tell you more about this. As far as bamboo is concerned, I think you’ll need to use vacuum bagging technics (you can find lots of information about vacuum bagging on sites about shaping windsurf). Let us know what you decide. Pierre
Thanks for the help I’ll e-mail a balsa shaper and ask advice as well.