I finished my second board from the molded EPS beaded blanks and Greg Loehr’s epoxy resin. First, Greg’s resin is SOOOOOOOOOOOO easy to work with and with the sanding additive, it is like sanding polyester. I sealer coated this blank with 3 ounces of epoxy on each side and gave it a 150 grit fine sand before laminating. I still have some small blowing problems, but nothing like the first one. Next one gets 2 sealer coats, the blanks supplier said to glass on a falling temp. I do need to sleep though. The board floats like it is over 3" thick, but is 2-5/8". It doesn’t ride too well though, backside is like lightning, but frontside has a momentary bogging as I hit the transition between face and bottom of the wave. When I start the turn, it feels like the rail is in the water too much, but suddenly tears the outside fin free (I can hear it sucking as it cavitates and leaves the water),then it abruptly flies up the face, like a nice fluid motion between drop, turn and recovery. Today I am removing the side fins to see if this is the problem or part of the problem. The 3 fins may be clustered too closely? I have room to move the center fin, but moving it back will only stiffen the board more. It was glued to the 9’5"s rocker, which I have used on my boards many time with success. If that fails to add and desirible qualities. it will become a Frankenstein board with additional FCS plugs helter skelter, until it dies from loss of blood or become a favorite.
where is the pictures Jim? Why must I beg for pictures of your boards? Are you punishing me?
Is it too late to get some epoxy tips on your upcoming glassing video?
I saw it. It’s cool. Light as a feather. By the way, Jim. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Great shape I picked up from you today. That board is going to be a gem. can’t wait till the glass is done. Hey, could you, perhaps throw a few more labels on it to add a little color under the glass? Maybe some green ones? Any color is fine, though. Thanks again. Hope you enjoyed the Bud Ice. I’d have a beer about now too, but I have open house at 8:00 tonight, and don’t need beer on the breath. Thunderstorm outside. Odd for SoCal. Feels like the East Coast, eh?
What kind of small bubbling prblem? Like the gasing that occurs with the extruded blanks? Are we going to see short board blanks with beaded foam soon?
The blanks I saw at Jims looked finished. I couldn’t tell. I have no experience with it. I don’t even know where they come from. Can they be shaped with a planer? I would think they would crumble if you tried. My dog used to chew styrofoam. God, what a mess it is to clean up. The wind blows it everywhere. I wonder if they can last as long as polyurethane. They don’t soak up water, do they, if the glass is dinged? Back to the orignal thought. Are they pre-shaped completely or do you have to shape them? Plus, is epoxy easier to work with, less sticky, less stinky? My last board reeked up the whole neighborhood and gassed out both next door neighbors. Then, I hotcoated it at my dad’s in his driveway, stuck it under the truck to dry, and as soon as I left, his gardener came up the driveway and used a leaf blower on the driveway. It was the worst hot coat in the world. It took me forever to sand it (and sand through it) and fix it. It’s a shame, and it rode like crap.
I have the blanks in 7’0" and 9’6". Greg loehr said he thought the gassing was from the beads not being aged long enough before being placed in the mold. The glassers said to glass in the evening when the temps are falling. Jack Reeves (one of the universes best glassers) said he always glasses his balsa boards during a falling temp. The blank is inhaling instead of exhaling.
The glassers said to glass in the evening when the temps are falling. Jack Reeves (one of the universes best glassers) said he always glasses his balsa boards during a falling temp. The blank is inhaling instead of exhaling. Brilliant advice. Those two sentences speak volumes. Thanks!
We have AC in Fl. We glass then turn on the AC. Works 100%. Aging the beads before the molding process should help with that though. We’ve been through many foams and it seems to be a constant that aging the beads eliminates blowing agent gasses and reduces problems in the glassing stage. Fairmont… they shouldn’t soak water being blown in a small mold like that. The pressures they can apply are much greater than in large blocks so the bead fusion is generally better. Jim, I’m very excited about getting MY blank. I’ll talk to you soon.
Molded EPS beaded blanks… Sorry I am out of the loop. Who makes these, and where can I purchase one? Thanks!
Talk to Jim. He’s got the inside track.
Switchfoot, get in touch with me. The blanks are here in North county, SD, Ca.
Are they pre-shaped or can you shape them with a planer?
I am trying to track down an EPS blank for a longboard that i want to shape i needs some advice as to what things slowed down the creation of a cool board MIKE
Jim- I tried emailing you, and havn’t gotten a response, I was wondering how I should go about getting in contact w/ you. Thanks