Paulownia deck only EPS build

Is this advisable? I have a low density blank with a ply stringer I made, is it possible to do just a timberflex style and do the deck only but with paulownia? I was thinking layup from top 4oz, wood (depending on thickness) glued, bottom 6x6.

What is the thinnest available veneer? And is it advisable to recess the veneer?

I’m copying a board that has been snapped and fixed, was going to just sand bag the deck wood after lamming the bottom and use the old board (with plastic sheet on top) to use as a rocker guide while the glue sets…,

Bad ideas?

For sure it’s good, looks at elleciel surfboards he do his boards like that and he give lot of information on how he make them. I do some too, i try 1,5 balsa, 0,6 frêne, 1mm samba with glass under and over on 1,5lb eps is dent résistant but feel stiff even without stringer.

Wow, they look awesome. So does he back the 2mm paulownia veneer with fibreglass? Then sand down or bevel the edges to blend in before top glass?

Yes back Wood with a layer of fiberglass then sand flush Wood. I do many as this and it work nice.

So the balsa, did you compile strips on a fibreglass backing? Or did you get a big sheet? Any photos?

Never mind, just read about a guy doing the same thing.
Cool!

Ndsboards wrote:
“use the old board (with plastic sheet on top) to use as a rocker”

If I am reading this correctly, deck rocker is different from bottom rocker.

Yes i use strip attached with masking tape. Can’t post photos but there is some in post about what are you working on and in my website www.matsurfboards.fr .

Sorry, as in a rough guide rocker table when I sand bag the balsa deck on. The rocker has already been hotwired in, the bottom will be lammed. Just so it doesn’t warp out of shape too much when sand bagging. Figured it’d be a good rocker bed. As good as a sand pit!!

Why not use vacuum? Don’t want to on this first experimentation. Scouted the archives and people have pulled off plenty of deck wood lams without it.

Vaccum bag is the simple an effective way to attach a wood skin on a surfboard deck.

Yeah for real. I’ll get into it one day. Happy to experiment with a few things till I get a vac set up. I’ll post my failures/successes when or if I have time!!

Pretty moderate temperatures where I live, do you think it’s worth installing a vent if I’m only doing the top skin balsa or some sort of wood? I see your friend who does mostly deck only doesnt

Most of time vents are not needed. But if you let your board in car under sun, you can have problems…