just wondering if anyone has used the pink foam from homedepot. it comes in two different thicknesses 1 and 2inch. and its 2’x8’.
Willy, Thanks to you and your post for giving me the impetus to come out of lurking.
I made a 7’10" single-fin with thick, soft rails for surfing small waves in New Jersey this past summer. I used the 1" pink xps foam. I bought one sheet and ripped it lengthwise, then laid it up with a sheet of 1", 1 lb eps in the middle. I roughed the pink up and used elmers ultimate foaming glue.
I laid it up on a rocker table with the bottom sheet (pink) and the center sheet (white) first, then template cut the board and shaped the white foam (sort of beveling around the edges to control the thickness and foil of the board). I templated the upper sheet seperately, then laid it up. I wanted to keep the eps encapsulated so I glued on one vertically oriented strip of scrap pink xps around the perimeter.
I glassed it heavily, 6 & 2 bottom and 6 x 2 x 6 top. I went heavy on the resin, too, but the board is still fairly light (I haven’t actually weighed it).
I used only hand tools - utility knives for templating and sandpaper and a belt sanding loop cut open for shaping.
I felt that it shaped easily, but I am a novice and have no background for comparison. After about twenty surfs I have no delam issues, but I keep it out of heat and away from the sun.
There is some great info in the archives if you search for ‘xps’. There is also a lot of negative info, but this seems to be just as important. Sort through it for the people who have had success.
I’m making a board out of the blue xps at the moment. This time I’m not using any eps and the blank came together just fine with white glue instead of pu glue.
I’m not sure if there are any important chemical differences between the blue and the pink xps, maybe someone with more experience knows.
Good luck,
Nate
ask the gazaboo
cool well i guess i might try the foam i think im going to do a comp sandwich with poplar rails and poplar skin top and bottom.