Ive been a long time stalker here on sways, never really found the need to post since I have always found everything in the forums, but of course havent done anything that complicated… Until now i guess… i just bought myself a old cheap medical vac at ebay to start vacuum bagging, the shipping cost where actually more than the item, one drawback of living in PR, well after cleaning the hell of the vacuum, i think it even had blod clots in it pretty nasty stuff but heck it was kind of cheap anyways… Ill be using a hotwire to cut my profile of 1# eps and add a 1/16 balsa sheets with 3oz inside to the bottom, my concern is since that one pound is pretty floppy im kind of nervous that after sticking the skins and getting it out of the bag ill be losing the rocker shape because of the spring back of the balsa sheets, i would just go for it and do it but since everything here is kind of pricey,(i am also a cheap college student ) i would like to save my items from a screwup :). Thanks in advance guys ! .
chumboman, Are you going to have enough foam left when you cut your blank to use as a rocker bed? If so use this to maintain your rocker when you do the bottom and deck. Or you can make a rocker stick from a 1 x 6 and use this on the bottom in the bag when doing the deck. Check video number 2 starting around 2:40.
http://www.nelsonfactory.com/en/the-factory/video1.php
regards, Dave
Great video didnt thought about the rocker stick, Yeah im going to use the offcuts from the foam but still was a bit paranoid, so as long as I use the rocker bed until the epoxy dries there shoudnt be any springback?
After you do the bottom it will probably spring back a bit and could even end up with more rocker which is no big deal. Just make sure that when you bag the deck that you have something in place (rocker stick, bed, jig etc) to assure that you are going to achieve your desired rocker. When the deck sets up what you see is what you get.
Dave
Thanks Dave! of course you probably just screwed my study session im watching all the videos they are really helpful, love the idea of using the tube to transfer the wet glass to the board !!
http://paulgcannon.blogspot.co.nz/2009/02/begginers-guide-to-composite-surfboards.html
i posted some videos on youtube of flatboard technique and rocker springback in 2007 . seems quiite primative looking back at it but i basically use the same procedures in a better workshop. and use high density foam for the perimeter stringers wihich is fast and better then balsa. although there is a fast way to do laminate wood rails as well
Thats a pretty good write up, i would love to work with some HD foam i am pretty sure its much easier than laying up all the balsa, but i had trouble finding a good supplier of EPS foam dont even want to think about where i can get some HD foam at a fair price here in Puerto Rico, also shaving wood just brings me joy i really dont know why… atleast for the rails its probably going to take most of my time, i was thinking of laying up walnut,balsa on the rail i just love the contrast
Hey Chumbo! I started with 2# EPS and 1/16" balsa with redwood and balsa perimeter rails. They tended to break easily.
I now use 1# Home Depot EPS, 4oz. S cloth, 3/32" balsa, 4oz. S then finish the rails with cherrywood (good long fiber bending wood) and balsa (actually palownia now) perimeter rails. They're much stronger and are LIGHT!
Becarefull... it's addicting! In the past 9 years I've made 29 boards! Most experiments but some are magic! Have fun.
Les
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After you do the bottom it will probably spring back a bit and could even end up with more rocker which is no big deal. Just make sure that when you bag the deck that you have something in place (rocker stick, bed, jig etc) to assure that you are going to achieve your desired rocker. When the deck sets up what you see is what you get.
Dave
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I had the exact opposite happen to me the other day. I didn't have a flow regulator on my vac system, so the bag pulled to 30" (according to my gauge). Didn't think anything of it as I had the blank weighted down on my rocker table. Pulled it out of the bag, everything looked okay, started prepping it for the deck side and suddenly realized, I've got flat to negative rocker! I suppose during set up, the bag under vacuum, lifted up and I didn't notice. Anyway, went and got a regulator, adjusted it to pull about 15" and added a bit of weight and (luckily) corrected the situation.