I agree with you, meanshapes…that is the only thing that we have to stand on, being able to make High Tech boards, with the resin and the blanks. But when you see a Hi-tech board selling for $1000 to 2000.00 you are limiting yourself to a very small group of buyers.
Heres something to throw at you, I remember reading an Al Merrick story in the late 80’s about making a flexible shortboard (being able to move the rocker up and down, like a boogie board). Think about it, being able to surf stand on the tail and make the board stall, or if you need speed, stand on the nose and straighten out the rocker for a faster board.
Make a board like that, and they will beat a path to your doorway…
If you want to avoid the downtown factory hassle and just need a couple of blanks, you might try “Fins, Foam and Fiberglass.”
As an established Walker retailer, Scott in Ventura should be able to provide a pretty steady supply for hobbyists. I was in there on Tuesday, 12/13/05 - he still had a few blanks available and more expected by this weekend.
He also had a good supply of resin - poly and epoxy, cloth, fins and misc supplies.
Every Clark retailer I’ve contacted is sold out with no further deliveries expected. They are searching for alternative sources of foam as we speak.
My take on the Walker foam is that it’s every bit as good as Clark maybe better. The stringers in the blanks I bought were perfectly straight. A personal bugaboo with a few Clark blanks I’ve shaped was crooked stringers. Certainly many shapers prefer Walker foam for it’s consistent density in all three weights.
I understand that they are working on a new plug or two and offer computer preshapes. The down side… they don’t have the “close tolerance” selection and rocker catalog that Clark had.
Hmmm whatcha think 3.5lb eps no stringer, light glass and Resin research 2040 epoxy? Hmmm wonder what that would ride like? I cant wait to try the Walker stuff. Just hope we will be able to get some way up north in the badlands…
I got a couple of Walker blanks from Scott just before Clark’s closure. There is a little more figuring to do than with a Clark.
As far as the foam/blank is concerned, I think it feels great. Both were totally straight and a pleasure to shape. For some reason, doing the rails felt like butter- especially 50/50.
I dont dissagree with you, but you cant argue that for MOST board shapes the Walker blanks are bulky and its a waste, on both ends more dust in your rooms, More chemicals they have to pour, more time shaping that gets wasted, etc