X-tra foam blanks

General Discussion
1

Hello peeps!

 Have any of you had any experience using the X-tra foam blanks from SA?

 I have looked for some info on here, one post got quite agro about it lol, and on the web but didn’t find anything useful.

 It’s my first time using PU blanks and know that the old ones used to have lower density foam the deeper you went into the blank causing all sorts of bother if you cut too deep into them.

The blank I have is a little too thick and I wanted to know if these blanks had more consistent density or if I should be careful not to take off too much.

Anyone have any info on them? They seem quite hard but as it’s the first PU I’ve ever used I haven’t got a clue.

cheers in advance!

2

I have heard of these blanks but honestly don’t know a thing about them.  Didn’t even know they were from SA until you said so.  I think Surf Source on the East Coast sells them.  If the formula is based on Australian Chemistry then I would say the density would be fairly consistent throughout.  All PU blanks in the market place these days seem to have improved their density/porosity.  

3

deck patch!

4

A shaper told me the crust is stronger near deck or crust on pu. I’d imagine you could cut down to 1/8" before it started getting weaker. I doubt it would bust in half if you went to 3/16"? Maybe the pro’s will chime in. +1 to deck patch.

5

I’m using yellow grade arctic foam it seems kinda weak? I’m curious about blue foam, green etc… the clark foam green seemed tough! Sadly they’re gone.:frowning:

6

Cheers boys!

Yeah, it seems that the blanks nowadays have improved a fair bit and all seem to have consistent density if you believe the sales hype.

I’m going to use 6oz cloth, 2 layers on the deck and 1 on the bottom. That should give it better resistance shouldn’t it? No need for deck patch I thin, right?

Jim, I was looking at the arctic foam, a bit more expensive, but the shipping shot the price way up. I’ve read good reviews on them though.

Thanks for the replies guys, always a pleasure to post here.

7

Thing’s change man, I geuss? The arctic seems denser on crust tho? Im not going crazy thinning out my deck though! I’ll just toss on rails, dome the deck a bit and probably call it done? Maybe thin the nose area out sum like I was tellin you about… the nose + tail needs to look thinner or it looks to garage…

8

No deck patch…I think you’d only do a deck patch in the case you do 1+1 layer + patch.2+1 6oz should br rhino strong !

9

Speaking from experience, no. But do what u want.

10

Bugger! Thought 2 x 6oz on the deck would do the trick. Would an added 4oz patch do the trick Huck?

it’s the patch or loose some weight…dilemas!

11

Oh, I forgot to mention that I will be using RR epoxy for the glass job. Does that make a difference?

12

I’m not a glasser yet, but the double 6 oz deck + single bottom is fine. Maybe the single w patch is no ? Dunno, but a guy I met at the beach
said that’s what he did. Maybe no good??

13

6 + 6 fine as long as foam is strong, but  only saying if blank is soft it will dent.

All good, some guys like deck dents, like comfortable shoes broken in or old pair Levi’s.

I’d go 6 + 4 with 4 on patch if I was worried about dents, but no use getting too heavy and u don’t like the board. Me, I like heavier boards.

14

with xtra blanks, the foam is only ok at best. The biggest problem ive found with them is that every single one i’ve held has been twisted. The last one i looked at, the stringer was off what looked like an inch to the left from tail to nose.

 

15

Yeah, don’t want the board too heavy really, Huck. If the foam isn’t that good I might have to consider taking less off the deck or adding that patch. Definately don’t want it to dent, it’s for a mate of mine and he won’t be impressed if that happens too quickly.

Drifter2- I bought 2 fish blanks and one has a bent stringer in the last few inches. I thought I stuffed up when making the template until I noticed it. The other seems ok though, bit thicker on one side than the other by 1/8" or so mind you. 

Will using the RR give it any extra strength/resistance? Suppose if the foam is soft it will cave in any way.

I’ll try and take as little as possible off the deck so as not to get into the softer foam I think and do the 2 x 6 oz to keep it a little lighter.

thanks for the advice lads

16

ive used Xtra and liked thier product. I still preffer a higher desnity US blanks blank however. Just a better feel to me. 

6’ Xtra glassed with 2x4oz on deck with 4oz(1x) on the bottom. No dents cracks or total failures…yet haha

17

I think with RR epoxy it’s good to let it cure for a few days after glassing. With my boards they seem to dent less when I do.

18

Huck- thanks for sharing - I’m new to glassing, but if I run low on cloth ill patch deck and maybe on top of tail on back bcuz once I had my leash coord rip a line 1/4"wide and three inches deep! It looked terrible!

19

I go 6x4 on the deck with very few deck dents on mine. I don’t like deck dents.  6x6 shouldnt need a patch. If you take too much foam off the deck of PU you’re probably gonna get dents no matter what you use. Epoxy is good.  Mike

20

Thanks for all the help boys!

 I’ve increased the thickness of the design by 1/8" to 2 5/8". It still gives around 40L of volume which is what I wanted and this way I can save 1/8" on the deck, take off as little as possible on top and do a 2 x 6oz. I’ll live with a little dome on the deck.

Will this dome have an effect when I mark out my rail bands? I’m assuming it won’t as you measure from bottom of blank to top to put the first mark on the rail but when you do the second mark for the first and second band, will it throw the measurement out if it’s domed?

Maybe I’m getting too caught up in numbers…it happens a lot, but I’ve assumed a few things before and found out that the old saying about it making an ass out of u and me is very true!