i have been shaping clark/poly for a number of years, i am ready for a change of materials.
i was wondering where can i get new resin or what are the best pointer to start.
i am looking for ultra light/strong boards yet flexible…
i have tried dhp resin and i it is really difficult to finish. the boards are looking scratchy and its hard to sand.
how’s epoxy?
what blanks?
airbrushing on eps or whatever foam you have to use?
white pigment for fin boxe?
can you gloss?
thanks,
Why not just your regular Clark blanks, then you don’t have to deal with rocker tables, new materials to shape, stringer or not, etc.
I’d get Greg’s clear epoxy, if you can wait for shipping or whatever.
I’ve built 3 kiteboards with West Marine epoxy, and it works fine, is a little fuzzy, and seems strong and easy to work with, including polish.
No biggee, you just spend twice the amount of money for resin, and the mixture ratio is more critical.
Is it the blanks, the resin, or both that make an epoxy board stronger/lighter?
If you use a Clark blank what is the comparison using poly resin to epoxy? Will you still get a light and strong board, or just a stronger board?
Just shaped glassed and hotcoated a 6’4"x18.5"x2.25" out of Clark superlight blank with Greg Loerh’s R/R epoxy usng Additive “F” in all the stages.
Lamination took a little less than a quart resin/hardener mix with 4oz E glass bottom and 4oz deck with a 3/4 lenght second layer of 4oz. The hotcoat taking considerably less than that. The stuff flows like a dream and whets out way better than poly. I’ll let you know how much to board weighs with and without fins and post photos when it’s done. It’s worth a try believe it!
Off to New Beginnings or in Clapton’s words –
“further down the road,” Rich
System 3 has a “starter kit” for something like 10 bucks. Greg Loehr might be able to hook you up with something similar(?)
A quart set, which is enough to do a short board is $27. Additive F runs $16 per pint and you’ll have plenty left for future boards.
As for some of the quetions, epoxy and poltstyrene blanks are BOTH the reason boards come out light. The epoxy alson on a regular clark blank, regular shortboard, finished weight will be about 1/2 lb. lighter than the same glass job with polyester. Polystyrene blanks allow you to build even lighter. Generally we use 2# density EPS blanks which is significantly lighter than a Clark Ultra. There is also1.5# density and 1.0# if you REALLY want it light. You can also glass a light blank really strong and go out and give all your buddies dings if you want to go that route too. All in all, how you make a board is up to you. Epoxy allows you to build the best quality and strength to weight ratio with whatever core you might choose. For more info, email me at .
Is a polystyrene blank shaped with the same tools and techniques as a regular Clark Foam blank ?
Thanks.
Hey Greg
When are you opening shop in SoCal?
We have an epoxy plant located in Arizona. No plans to do anything in SoCal. We work with a number of shop there already.
Polystyrene blanks can be shaped with the same tools. In SoCal call HDX for blank info - 714-404-1663 or Hydrofoam in SB.