I started looking around on the internet for a source for EPS. I found a company just up
the road from me in Corona and sent an email off to them to ask about the availability and cost on EPS. We emailed back and fourth a few times and it sounds like they may be a company to keep an eye on as a source for EPS blanks. The company name is Marko Foam. The following is an excerpt from the most recent email I received from them:- - - - - - -We are currently tooling up for many different size blanks both tight tolerance and rough cut. Our main focus is the blank sizes under 7’6" currently. We will be able to offer those some time late January. In the works are 6’0", 6’3", 6’9". Future sizes are 9’0" and up. We manufacture in Mexicali Mexico and we have a distribution warehouse in Corona CA. We are partners with Surflight Hawaii and Jeff Johnson is the shaper. We are currently in production on the 7’6" tight tolerance and we are able to mold this same blank 1" thicker so additional shapes can come out of same blank. We can run in any density from .75 PCF up 3.0 PCF. Our plan will be to have Light and standard weight blanks with special orders available. - - - - - - -
If you’re looking for foam in that area I don’t see why you wouldn’t go with Airframe (Ken) at Segway Composites. He sells blanks templated by Greg Loehr and I bet he could hook you up with bulk balsa. An added benifit is that he is very knowledgeable about the stuff.
If you’re looking for foam in that area I don’t see why you wouldn’t go with Airframe (Ken) at Segway Composites. He sells blanks templated by Greg Loehr and I bet he could hook you up with bulk balsa. An added benifit is that he is very knowledgeable about the stuff.
DanB, I agree with you, I probably will go with one of Ken’s composite blanks for the first go around just because of the knowledge he has.
But, I figure there will be a number of people trying to fill the void caused by the Clark closure and I will be keeping my eyes open for multiple sources of materials to feed my board building addiction
I am sure there will be many businesses, both established and startup, that will be trying to fill the “blank void”. The good ones, like Segway, will do well because of the time and committment that they have put into it up front. Others that might be in it for the perceived quick bucks won’t make it. I think it’s important for us to keep up with who’s building blanks, spreading the word in forums like this and more importantly, providing feedback to the forum membership on which products are good and which ones are not so good.
I don’t know if its the same company or not, but Mike Eaton gets the EPS for his paddleboards in Corona. He can get up to 16’ pieces, longer than that & he’s gluing blocks up just like the rest of us.
BTW, Mike is 70 (!) and finished the Catalina to LA (26 miles) paddle race this year faster than he did when he was 50. WTFG, Mike.
