New Zealand and Expanded PolyStyrene foam

Kia Ora Whanau ,

ko James toku ingoa,

no Kaitaia ahau,

I would like to start off by saying that i am by no means an experienced backyard surfboard shaper.To date i have completed 3 Pu/Pe surfboards and shaped another 2 but not yet glassed them.

I would like to have a go at a composite board after my current projects are done ,which is where my question comes into play.I do not seem to be able to find anwhere to get large enough blocks of eps to have a crack at a composite board.

So far my efforts have been google searches which do not seem to have given me any results.

What i was wondering is if there are any Kiwis using this site who are currently making composites and know where to source EPS foam from ,or whether or not any of you can give me any ideas on where i might be able to find any.

Cheers guys

James

hey hunty

where are you at

styrobeck plastics for big blocks of eps

bondor for bigger blocks

seabase for marko eps blanks have stringers

carters for insulation sheets

resin and HD skin foams adhesive technologies i use adr280

or “west system” is fine

seabase do resin research epoxy and futures fins

hardcore do "euro " fcs type plugs

an online school supplier does nichrome wire for hotwiring (cant remember there name)

Hi - has anyone got the contact details for seabase in NZ?

Cheers

Simon

Hi Hunty,

Expol in Auckland can supply a 3630 x 1230 x 630 block. Their Phone # is 09 634 3449. They’ll ship. Barnes Plastics has 2700 x 1220 x 620 blocks. Never dealt with them though. Phone# 09 579 9725.

Also Insultech, Forman Insulation, Best Insulation, and Lang Plastics. All in Auckland. I’ve talked to all these places in the past but never bought anything from them.

Just scored several years suply of foam at my local auction yard. It’s a hassle trying to find someplace to put it though.

Paul turned me on to Adhesive Technologies for resin. I think the guys name is Collin - very helpful.

Paul is Seabase in NZ? Didn’t know that. Wouldn’t mind giving RR a go.

Jon

hey jon

seabase is in mt maunganui

you can get the number of directory assistance

they wholesale resin research and marko blanks

but the marko blanks are crazy prices and have stringers

resin seams well priced although it is dearer then AT

they also do manufacturers sets for futures and those little legrope plugs and bahne boxes

the dudes name is ben

and hes pretty cool

they wont do grips,leggies or boardbags though

pretty annoying

maybe we can set up a nz composites buying group for accsessories

get an order off shapers australia and split it

Cheers for all the help guys ,i really appreciate it.

You could try Pete Anderson at Anderson surfboards for Marko if you ask him nicely enough. He might ask you to supply an APS3000 file though as he might want to preshape it first rather than just sell it straight off. Also Shapers Australia are the distributors for ATL composites Kinetik surfboard epoxy. This stuff is supposed to be very similar to Resin Research and much cheaper. Hardcore Surf Products and Seabase(?) are agents for Shapers Oz.

Board builders cooperative- I’m in. I always try to buy in bulk. The great thing about composite construction is that it’s mostly industrial materials- you don’t have to deal with the surf industry at all except for stuff like fins and leashes ect. Actually I hate leashes. If it’s not rocky I give them a miss. Been making some of my own fins too but it takes time.

^^^^yeah the board builders co op doesnt sound like a bad idea ,i could definately be interested depending on what sort of cost we are talking about(all financial decisions must be run by Mrs Hunty first though :)).

I would be quite keen on the co-op thing as well. Resin Research is just too expensive in this neck of the woods.

and you can get nichrome wire at dick smith and Adhesive Technologies can supply 2oz glass which is hard to get through surf suppliers

Karl

well when your talking 30 legropes and grips and bags and stuff and the odd wettie

hopefully wholesalers may start to listen

if not, we got the numbers to bulk order from aus or direct from manufacturers

as far as resin goes

maybe something in the pipeline …hang 5 on that!

i think seabase should be good for futures fins and other stuff like leash plugs and such

and perhaps resin if you not happy with other products

maybe i can get cheap plastic vents i think from DanB

i managed to get fcs wholsale but i had to show him the boards first

was interested in raptor finsystems in aus though

bert is using them now

as far as foam goes

if its in a composite,any old low density eps will do

but i hear the marko is really well fused beads which would be good for just plain glassing

ive made a few blanks out of 1.5 pd blocks for plain glassing and they are fine

but do suck a bit of water when you ding them

do markos suck water??

i use red devil spackle from mitre ten

i get balsa from Airsale

I’ll be in on any bulk orders

…used to have a house in Brown’s Bay. No surf there but great little town.

Here’s some contact numbers for Marko blanks:

Seabase (Ben) 64 7 575 6979 or 64 (0)21 835 090

or email ben@seabase.co.nz

Cheers from Rincon

Bruce Fowler

OOOOOOps!

got an email back…with the correct phone number. He was typing in the dark (I told him to pay his light bill!)

Best contact number for Seabase and Marko blanks 64 7 575 6070

NZ is kicking butt in Louie Vuitton…our American team sucked wind and is out! Go kiwis!

look at my post elsewhere in here and correct contact phone.

…you might ant to check into Fiberglass Hawaii’s epoxy. Ted Wilson is the owner and has been supplying resin to Oz by container for years. He also became a partner in U.S. Blanks (pu foam)…he has very good epoxy that many feel is better than Resin Research (sorry Greg) and also is non blushing and will accept a polyester finish coat…can’t do that w/West Systems to my knowledge.

I’m willing to bet F.H. has a supply source in NZ…I’ll check for ya.

Hi there,

From what i understand Seabase NZ offer everything you need to make the perfect custom epoxy board.

Marko foam is currently available along with Resin Research, Futures Systems, Aerialite warp glass and ‘S’ Glass, Hexcel glass Etc etc.

Prices are very competative. From what i hear Marko and RR prices are set to come down slightly - maybe give them a call?

hey stix

this is swaylocks

if your ben from seabase

just say so

its better for everyone that way

you could even attach a link and pricelist!

cheers

Paul

Hi Paul,

Wanted to clarify that we’re here for you guys. We’ve spent a lot of time researching into epoxy EPS. From the work we’ve done and from extensive trial and error in Europe we’ve opted to run with Marko and Resin Research. Marko is expensive but it’s our choice because of it’s ease of use and tightly fused bead.

RR will shortly be available in smaller quantities - hopefully within the next 3 weeks.

We currently have a shipment on the water - hopefully prices will come down with the strength of the dollar.

Note that Marko’s parabolic stringer blanks are available in three weeks!

I’ll happily work you out a good price if you want to sample Marko/RR.

If you have any qustions please call:

07 575 60 70

021 835 090.

Regards,

Ben Steward

Seabase Ltd