Say…I was wondering…how long can you keep a blank before it “degrades”?! (WILL it “change”, appreciably -with time- for the intended purpose of shaping, that is - {BARRING twists or any other changes due to improper storage}). I’ve never used old foam, but was wondering if any of you have used a REALLY OLD blank (I’m talking like WELL over a decade {or two!} or something like that {or in some equally bizarre circumstance where you might have come across a cashe of blanks})… and how the age affected your results. Any good stories?!..Thanks; Tom.
Say…I was wondering…how long can you keep a blank before it > “degrades”?! (WILL it “change”, appreciably -with > time- for the intended purpose of shaping, that is - {BARRING twists or > any other changes due to improper storage}). I’ve never used old foam, but > was wondering if any of you have used a REALLY OLD blank (I’m talking like > WELL over a decade {or two!} or something like that {or in some equally > bizarre circumstance where you might have come across a cashe of > blanks})… and how the age affected your results. Any good > stories?!..Thanks; Tom. Tom, I’ve shaped blanks that have been out in the weather, exposed for 8-10 years. After the outer layer of crud was shaped off, the innards were fine.
Tom, I’ve shaped blanks that have been out in the weather, exposed for > 8-10 years. After the outer layer of crud was shaped off, the innards were > fine. …My bros 6’-4 er 5" blue fish on the board page under,"short boards"was shaped out of a discontinued 7’-4"A, light foam blank with a redwood stringer.The blank was well over 20 years old when I shaped it,and there was no problems with any phases of the building.In fact it shaped cleaner,and easier than most new blanks.It’s still going strong today!Herb.
ditto. i shaped one once that was 10 about years old. it had been in the weather and kicked around alot. the old clark “superlite”. the skin was really hard but the foam inside was white and stiff. the board seemed really strong.
Thanks for the feedback, guys!..I had heard a rumor that “aged” blanks really set nicely, and - apparently - as your testaments seem to concur…it IS true! Thank-you Jim, Herb, and Gene! Laters,…T.
…My bros 6’-4 er 5" blue fish on the board page > under,"short boards"was shaped out of a discontinued > 7’-4"A, light foam blank with a redwood stringer.The blank was well > over 20 years old when I shaped it,and there was no problems with any > phases of the building.In fact it shaped cleaner,and easier than most new > blanks.It’s still going strong today!Herb. What does that tell you about how green the cores of our surfboards are?—not very. If foam is protected from sunlight, it can last a pretty long time folks. I bet the UV resined boards outlast the others? Any bets? Thanks for the input HERB. I had the same experience except my blank was old and didn’t have much rocker so I got into that “soft” foam—oops don’t squeeze too tight!
Actually blanks will keep for a long time. I have two that are over 10 years old now. The key to old blanks is proper storage. One is very badly twisted over time, it was just the nature of that blank according to the Clark. The problems I have run into are the outer foam gets hard and scaly. The old stringers will chip when the planer goes across is the biggest problem. I had one blank were the planer chipped out long splinters from the stringer. If you come across a 9’2" D let me know.>>> Say…I was wondering…how long can you keep a blank before it > “degrades”?! (WILL it “change”, appreciably -with > time- for the intended purpose of shaping, that is - {BARRING twists or > any other changes due to improper storage}). I’ve never used old foam, but > was wondering if any of you have used a REALLY OLD blank (I’m talking like > WELL over a decade {or two!} or something like that {or in some equally > bizarre circumstance where you might have come across a cashe of > blanks})… and how the age affected your results. Any good > stories?!..Thanks; Tom. http://www.viser.net/~anthwind/
What does that tell you about how green the cores of our surfboards > are?—not very. If foam is protected from sunlight, it can last a pretty > long time folks. I bet the UV resined boards outlast the others? Any bets?>>> Thanks for the input HERB. I had the same experience except my blank was > old and didn’t have much rocker so I got into that “soft” > foam—oops don’t squeeze too tight! The 6.4" fish is glassed heavy with custom Spitzer Fish Fins designed by Herb. The board has rode in everything from 6’ San Onofre to 6’ Imperial Beach and hasn’t got a ding or stress or shatter mark yet, and I don’t take very good care of my surfboards, like women use them then replace them but this one won’t go away.
Unfortunately foam isn’t like wine. The only cool story is that after a decade the outer shell lookef like crap, but when I skinned the blank it was white as a babies butt.