I’ve checked out the DOW “surfboard” foam. Haven’t shaped with it yet. Need a hotwire tool first. The “surfboard” foam is a real product made by DOW Chemical. No info on their website yet, but it does exist. It is blue, has a very nice density. It definately seems more rigid than the Clark Foam P/U blanks, and therefore, in my opinion seems like a stronger material. It is claimed that the blank formed from these blocks of blue surfboard foam does not need a stringer. And judging by the rigidity and cell structure - it possibly doesn’t need a stringer. Only experimenting with it will tell though.
Another characteristic of this foam is that it’s cell structure is very similar to the P/U blanks of the past, so one can shape it like such using the same tools we’ve used on the P/U blanks.
It comes in block form measuring 5.5" thick X 8’ X 2’. I was quoted the price of $81.00 per block. However a quantity order of 1 pallet (34 pcs ) would bring the per item cost down to $69.00/pc.
And unless you want to deal with a heap of planing or sanding dust, it’s best that you get your outline and rocker, etc by hotwiring it down to you rough shape, then shape like the “old fashioned” P/U blanks.
I was also told that if enough interest is generated in this product, that DOW would manufacture the “surfboard” foam in white. Baby Blue is the current color though, and a color change, they say, would require purging the foam injection lines of the blue to white, resulting in about 100,000 wasted blocks. So it is a huge investment for DOW to change the color.
Hey, why waste it, sell us the blue and white swirl too. Get that cosmic look going.
The foam is compatible with epoxy resin only.
The material is pretty cool, I can’t wait to try it out. Anyone selling a used hotwire tool with variac?
Oh ya - the contact where I went to get a sample and talk foam was in Burbank, CA. Nice people, very knowledgable: http://www.foamsalesmarketing.com/
On their website, they don’t yet list the product, but if you call or e-mail, and ask about the DOW “surfboard” foam, they’ll know what your asking about. Beacause that is what DOW has dubbed the name for this new product - DOW Surfboard foam.
Good Luck, and let me know if you make any boards from this stuff. I’ll do the same - just need a hotwire tool. And I’m not going to even attempt to make a home made one - I’d probably electrocute myself or burn the house down. www.Abeon.com sells kits, but they are kind of pricey - don’t know why, they just are.
Hope this helps.
-m