What woods do you all prefer, and for what reasons?!..What about multiple stringers ?! Any of you geezers remember gluing up your OWN stringers…I want a history lesson, bros!! Mahalo, nui…Tom!
What woods do you all prefer, and for what reasons?!..What about multiple > stringers ?! Any of you geezers remember gluing up your OWN stringers…I > want a history lesson, bros!! Mahalo, nui…Tom! …Now days, with no old cut redwood around,I prefer red cedar or spruce…basswood is okay but it requires more patiences.I’m not a big fan of multi-stringers,don’t get me wrong they look nice,and in the right appication they do help…As far as gluing-up stringers I still do from time to time when somebody gives me an un-cut blank to play with.It’s not that hard of a trick to cut and glue a blank, you just have to improvise.Herb.
In a story on new technologies in surfboard manufacturing Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia revealed his tesing technique which influenced Patagonia’s board design. The magazine was “Pacific Longboarder” - I don’t remember the issue number. The story also featured the polystyrene/epoxy boards by Surf Tech which have been debated here recently. Chouinard set up a testing device which featured a compression dial guage connected to a piston which basically demolished test planks of a uniform dimension. He got together a bunch (over 300) of foam planks - all the same size and glued up different stringer and lamination schedules. Then he broke 'em with the piston and measured the force required. As far as I know he’s the only guy who has done this so scientifically. His results are reflected in today’s Patagonia boards which feature EPS foam, RED CEDAR stringers and epoxy/fiberglass layups. All but the shortest boards have at least two stringers. They are not ding/break proof but seem to hold up pretty good for their weight.
What do you use as glue for inserting stringers? I’ve used white pigmented resin with fair results and have had to re-glue a couple of blanks from Clark Foam that were coming apart at the ends - also with resin. I called once and they told me “a type of glue” but weren’t very specific. I’ve also managed to accumulate enough century plant stalks to lay up into a blank and wondered if you have any ideas on that. I plan to saw them lengthwise and run them through my surface planer, then brush some laminating resin on the surfaces to be bonded before using black pigmented resin to actually do the glue up. I thought that it might make for some nice black glue lines between the pieces. Anybody else have ideas? (Jim Phillips?)
HOT MELT!..No not really,I use boat lam resin it’s a little thicker and sticker than surfboard lam…Color is only a preference in my opinion.Black will show everything so watch your glue-up…What I do some times is order a blank pre-cut from the factory w/o the wood and glue it up with mat fiberglass…Using fiberglass as a stringer gives me less weight, more strength and flexibility…“THIS IS NOT A NOVICE STUFF” John,or some with his exp. could easily do this .Herb.
HOT MELT!..No not really,I use boat lam resin it’s a little > thicker and sticker than surfboard lam…Color is only a preference in > my opinion.Black will show everything so watch your glue-up…What > I do some times is order a blank pre-cut from the factory w/o the wood and > glue it up with mat fiberglass…Using fiberglass as a stringer > gives me less weight, more strength and flexibility…“THIS IS NOT > A NOVICE STUFF” John,or some with his exp. could easily do this > .Herb. WW
In a recent confersation with Yvonne, he told me he is experimenting with some new stringer material that is apparently strong, yet allows the board to flex! He was very pumped on the whole deal.I don’t know all the details but I imagine you can contact Point Blanks in Ventura and talk to his son Fletcher and get the “dirt.” Matt
What do you use as glue for inserting stringers? I’ve used white pigmented > resin with fair results and have had to re-glue a couple of blanks from > Clark Foam that were coming apart at the ends - also with resin. I called > once and they told me “a type of glue” but weren’t very > specific. I’ve also managed to accumulate enough century plant stalks to > lay up into a blank and wondered if you have any ideas on that. I plan to > saw them lengthwise and run them through my surface planer, then brush > some laminating resin on the surfaces to be bonded before using black > pigmented resin to actually do the glue up. I thought that it might make > for some nice black glue lines between the pieces. Anybody else have > ideas? (Jim Phillips?) I glue at least 30 sets of stringers a month, with anything from bass, Sitka spruce, Redwood, old and new growth, western cedar,Port Ordford cedar, balsa and agave. Wood to wood, I use a good grade of carpenters glue or the polyurethane moisture activated glue. On wood to foam, I use polyester resin, epoxy or urethane glue. The polyesters I use have been let sit so that the majority of styrene is evaporated out. This makes them thicker and don’t run out during clamping. http://www.JimtheGenius@aol.com
I glue at least 30 sets of stringers a month, with anything from bass, > Sitka spruce, Redwood, old and new growth, western cedar,Port Ordford > cedar, balsa and agave. Wood to wood, I use a good grade of carpenters > glue or the polyurethane moisture activated glue. On wood to foam, I use > polyester resin, epoxy or urethane glue. The polyesters I use have been > let sit so that the majority of styrene is evaporated out. This makes them > thicker and don’t run out during clamping…Thanks for the education,Herb.
Many thanks to both you guys for the help!
Thanks for the thread, boys…really appreciated the input! T.
I glue at least 30 sets of stringers a month, with anything from bass, > Sitka spruce, Redwood, old and new growth, western cedar,Port Ordford > cedar, balsa and agave. Wood to wood, I use a good grade of carpenters > glue or the polyurethane moisture activated glue. On wood to foam, I use > polyester resin, epoxy or urethane glue. The polyesters I use have been > let sit so that the majority of styrene is evaporated out. This makes them > thicker and don’t run out during clamping. I clamp up to 250 blanks each week, i don’t use any of the glues you use. I use a silicon based glue that is a lot quicker and user friendly
Rabbit - would you mind posting the specifics on this glue? I’ve seen silicone based sealants and caulking but not glue. Any idea where it might be available through a retailer? Thanks.
Rabbit - would you mind posting the specifics on this glue? I’ve seen > silicone based sealants and caulking but not glue. Any idea where it might > be available through a retailer? Thanks. The glue i use is segaflex 221 white.I have no idea we you are from, you can get it at a engineers supplys. its used to build buses (ie hold side panels on the bus) it works great foam to foam,wood to wood, wood to foam. also comes in black and grey colours e-mail me and i will send you some.also i have heaps of blanks for sale from 6’3’ up to 10’5" at great prices. be great to hear from anyone wanting a blank. hope this help Rabbit
If you don’t mind me asking…what kind of blanks are they?..and what is your e-mail address? Herb.
If you don’t mind me asking…what kind of blanks are they?..and what > is your e-mail address? Herb…Yea, me too, I could use a few blanks. Scott.
ok guys, my e-mail
could you also use Sikaflex sealants? elastic sandable, paintable,it’s used by boatbuilders. I think you can buy it at any boating supply store.
could you also use Sikaflex sealants? elastic sandable, paintable,it’s > used by boatbuilders. I think you can buy it at any boating supply store. Yes that is the same stuff, I look at the tubes all day and couldn’t spell sikaflex correct (sorry)I use a small teeth scraper to put it on, To much sikaflex and the stringer slips everywhere, 6 tube clamps are used per blank up to 7’8" then i use 7. In 4 hours i remove the clamps.Plane the stringers the next day.Clean your hands in turps before it drys.I hope this adhesive helps all you old surf guys that still get their highs from smelling resin and the likes