i want to make my own eps blank, but all the information on where to get it and what its trade names are is all based on the states or oz. where can i get it over here? also is RR epoxy resin available in britain yet?
other question is what type should i get, 1/2/3 lb? i presume this refers to weight to square foot. i want to make a proper tanker out of it, will it be suitable?
cheers for any help given,
tom
(p.s, i bumped into chris ‘guts’ griffiths, top uk shaper, and he point blank refused to pass on any knowledge about anything, thats fair enough if thats his attitude i don’t really care, it just means my respect for all guys on sways has gone up even more, cheers)
" i bumped into chris ‘guts’ griffiths, top uk shaper, and he point blank refused to pass on any knowledge about anything, thats fair enough if thats his attitude "
…then , change his nickname to ‘clutz’ , I reckon .
sorry I can’t help you with the eps question …
but I DO know…there’s a lot of shapers out there suffering from "hub syndrome ’ *, I reckon …
In the UK they seem to grade EPS by its compressive strength rather than density. So you’ve got EPS70 EPS100 EPS200. EPS200 is the 2lb stuff (32kg/m3). The stuff you find in Wickes is going to be EPS70 or EPS100.
If you’re in South Wales the closest to you for epoxy and eps are probably the guys in this thread in Bristol;
Vensil Resil do EPS250 now, and Travis perkins can special order you a large block from them. I bought some of their lighter weight foam though, and it was a bit rubbish, large bead size, quite soft. Dunno if I’d want to spend 400 quid to find out that the foam wasnt that great.
I think people have been making longboards out of even the lightweight stuff, but from what little I’ve read the 3lb stuff is the best if you can get hold of it. Main thing is to use the right amount of glass for the grade of EPS you’re using.
I’ve only been able to find EPS in 8ft sheets here, so you might have to make some kind of joint for anything longer than that. I think there’s stuff in the archives on that. Then again I’ve only made shortboards so I haven’t really asked around for anything over 8ft, you might get lucky.
Seabase are bringing in RR epoxy, should be some with us in a month or so. As for eps, travis perkins is a good bet for blocks and B&Q for sheets if you want to glue them up to start off.
QUOTE: (p.s, i bumped into chris ‘guts’ griffiths, top uk shaper, and he point blank refused to pass on any knowledge about anything, thats fair enough if thats his attitude i don’t really care, it just means my respect for all guys on sways has gone up even more, cheers)
He shaped me a board years ago and it was a complete dog with the wrong specs, I dont have much respect for him as a shaper based on my experience. Good surfer though.
i’m in swansea, 10 min from langland ( a graet couple of breaks if you haven’t been there before, longboard wave, gnar reef and dumping shorebreak, for all of these you want to get there coming up to mid tide, hope none of thats too patronising for you, webcam link at magicseaweed.com as well)
Yer I heard that was the case, I can imagine how crowded it gets being so close to swansea, loads of students i bet, I thought I’d go check it out any way, i like trying out new breaks, so we’ll see. i’ll just be happy to be in the water again to tell truth.
the epoxy from dave cooley is good stuff and he also has fibreglass cheaper than seabase and homeblown!!
on eps blocks go to the hardware store and try to find the stickers on the blocks this should tell you the manufacturer!! then give them a call im in ireland i did this and for a 8ft by 4ft by 4in block in the hardware store was around €25 at the manufacturer i got a 10ft by 4ft by 6in block for €20!!
Great thread guys, thanks for the info. Have been stumped about where to go after the recent changes.
Hey Silverback, when are we going to see you up on the bore…? 4 great days at the beginning of March, more to come at the end again. Come try it man, it is wild…!! Got photo’s at the following; www.boresurfer.piczo.com which I have uploaded, site still being built, but the bare bones of stuff is up now.
