Clark Foam has Quit Business

[ScottMac]

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[Beeline2.0]

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[kneecaps]

All those longboards with the noses snapped off out there would keep
us kneelos in boards for 200 years!

And with Bud's shaping machine for the rockers, we're set.

[ScottMac]

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[T Hall]

Yea alot of shapers over the years have gotten a little spoiled with all of the close tollerance blanks keeping their shaping times down. However with a little extra effort and resourcefullness you can obtain the materials to make great boards. And you CAN get almost exact shapes, It just takes a little more time, and a quality craftsman with some patience. I'll let you guys know how my recycled kneeboard comes out. T Hall.

[ross]

i tested the chance to to test the water here in oz today.
i ordered 20 blanks from my usual sources today and they didnt even bat an eyelid.just told me i'd be waiting till new year,which i expected.
i asked if the clark foam debacle would be affecting future orders and was told a definate "no".which is great for us down here i guess.
what sucks is the large number of workers being laid of just before christmas

on the subject of dealing with less than close tolerance blanks.anyone who likes to think of themselves as a shaper/craftsman will overcome differences in their new suppliers blanks.might mean you pay a little more for your boards for freight,import taxes etc.

on the other hand its probably good for the industry to get a little kick in the arse

[Bud]

Hey T Hall !

We mentioned the subject of recycled boards on the other forum page...........Clark Foam Shut Down?

Go for it !

I've got my eye on a few here, like the one you found.

Years ago George Greenogh told me he liked 20 year old longboard foam best to use for the rails of his spoons. He said it was nice and cured.

Great FUN rip'n into those old beasts.

Plyers work well for grasping the cloth as you strip.
Cover up good so the spraying micro shards of fiberglass don't have you scratching for the next couple weeks.
WEAR EYE PROTECTION!

Kneeboard blanks were never close tollerance.
The 69A we used here, especially so.

Before the machine it was easy to get the proper rocker every time.
I've got a couple big long contour guages and some fixed rocker templates that I still regularly use.
(Also after years at it, you get to know what needs to be done as you cut into the various blanks you most often use.)

I used them on some huge EPS blocks a few years ago.
4' X 2' X 11' styro slabs turned into very sweet boards.
It was fun to saw big chunks away then work it all the way down to a fine shape.

The DSD machine I now utilize is hardly a "niche" item with 40 plus in use world wide.

Still plenty of hands on shaper know how to do with the resulting precut blank.

It's just a better tool than the planer.
Roughs out the blank a bit finer.
Saves wear on the old body.

The software and whole system is geared for "custom design".

And of course it works well for reproduction.

Yea Ross, there'll be kneeboard blanks available for some time.
Not sweat'n it here.
I've got other blank sources lined up.

And who knows.........Clark Foam may rise up from the ashes like the Pheonix!
Stranger things have happened.


The Surflite gig is now in the ball park of pricing with the regular boards.
If it's slow to get PU blanks, I'll work a bit more on the Surflite for us.
It'll be fun all the same.

[KAVA]

so then flashpoint uses aussie foam for its boards? if so then the clark foam issue isnt going to affect me for some time heh heh

[Shelfbreak]

Retraction to my earlier post - should have chased up a copy of Mr Clark's letter/fax before commenting. Having read it I now have some understanding as to why he didn't sell the business as a going concern. Given the level of disclosure in the 'open letter' it would be hard to sell anyway and it sounds like he believes he can only protect himself from future legal actions by undertaking an expensive cleanup operation. I also note his clear apology to his clients.

[hart]

All those longboards with the noses snapped off out there would keep
us kneelos in boards for 200 years!

And with Bud's shaping machine for the rockers, we're set.

just another 2 cent comment

Polyurethane foam is VERY unstable in its centre

It relies on the expansion of the TDI against the concrete (into which it is poured) mould to give it strength

It's crust is its only attribute regarding 'strength' (read stability)

I have grave concerns if we (as kneeboarders) think that we can use
things like malibu blanks (recycled or otherwise) to create our equipment



I would use a 20 year-old-blank for sure..

As long as it didn't resemble a longboard or sailboard to do it

..otherwise, I imagine our lives will shrink before our very eyes before we realise it



hart

vale John Lennon. A true Quarryman

[willli]

Municipalities use Fire Depts for building safety inspection
there are extensive referral forms available
to EPA, OSHA, FEMA, DEP ect., not to mention mirror state agencies and local agencies
there has been litigation concerning this warrantless search power but as long as there is a safety issue, referrals are deemed necessary and correct and upheld by the courts
It used to take an industrial disaster to create action after the fact
but Fire Depts do research on industrial process hazards
and the goal is prevention

Capt. Miller's response re Clark letter:

First off I do understand your being upset. However you are going off of
limited if not inaccurate information.
I have seen the letter and to be quite frank we were as surprised as anyone
else over this, what I am calling a business decision.
As of our last inspection (we are required by law to inspect this business
on a regular basis) they were in full compliance with us.
Did we ever refer them to any other regulatory agencies? Yes, we are
obligated by law. TDI (the chemical referred to here) is one of the top
regulated chemicals in the nation. It is a cousin chemical of the same one
that killed many people in Bopal, India. Lots of regulations in play today
were not in place back in the 60's when clark foam began. We have an
obligation to the business and community to make sure everything is done
properly and safely. Over the years we have worked hard to get compliance
with Clark Foam and successfully I might add without ever fining or giving a
citation or court order. Hopefully you understand this is a very nasty
chemical and as a business Clark Foam has choices to make to meet controls
to protect the environment and community that they are in. Without these
type of regulations your beaches would be unfit for surfing today and is
still a concern at times. TDI has multiple hazards and causes cancer. I
have read that there are employees that have filed long term workers comp
claims and one death may have resulted from the exposure there. I know this
doesn't bring back your surfboard supply, but hopefully you understand this
was a business decision and we did not force them out of business. That
would be like shooting our own foot. There are many, many companies in
Orange County, California that operate with dangerous chemicals and
processes and they make that business decision to operate and comply with
whatever regulations govern their business.

Please understand there is always two sides to the story. We are sorry to
see them go. In my experience when something like this happens, someone
will pick up where they left off, where obviously there is a need. Give it
time, I am sorry you feel the way you do but
I understand your concern. Bottom line is we did not shut down Clark Foam,
they made that decision to cease. My feeling is there is more to this
story. I can't speak for any charges against them, as we have none nor am I
aware of anyone (other agency) that does have any against them.

Please have a safe and happy holiday season.

Stephen J. Miller - Fire Captain - Public Information Officer
Orange County Fire Authority - Corporate Communications
Public Relations & Community Education Services Section
P.O. Box 57115
Irvine, CA 92619-7115
General Office Line - 714-573-6200
Direct Office Line - 714-573-6201
FAX Line - 714-368-8828
Smoke Alarms and Fire Sprinklers Save Lives and Property!
www.ocfa.org

[willli]

knowledge helps perspective

http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/toluene2.html

[K-man]

The Clark Foam Saga Continues

Yes, I surfed today but I want to continue a bit of the discussion about Clark Foam. I asked one of the "old guys" at the break what his take on the situation was. (Now, when I say "old guy," I don't mean he was old. I mean "old guy" as in "Old Guys Rule" t-shirts. In other words, he's older than I am and has some gray in his hair.) This guy makes his own boards. He's probably been surfing as long as I've been alive. He thinks this factory-closing is all a ruse by Grubby Clark to cause chaos in the market, thus sending prices higher. This guy also asserted that Clark already has a fully functional, ready-for-production factory in China. The old guy said Clark never did anything to help the surf industry and that Clark has only ever been in it for the money. So, as I said, the saga continues. When I posted the story about Clark Foam, I didn't comment. Something about it doesn't ring true to me. I could be wrong. Frankly, it's my instinct that tells me someone isn't being completely forthcoming with the truth. I just don't know who that someone is

Will try to run this article down... Emailed a friend about this situation yesterday.,titled,''I smell a rat''Didn't want to put My rave on the site...But, I found this article this morning....Please don't kill the messenger

[kneecaps]

He thinks this factory-closing is all a ruse by Grubby Clark to cause chaos in the market, thus sending prices higher. This guy also asserted that Clark already has a fully functional, ready-for-production factory in China. The old guy said Clark never did anything to help the surf industry and that Clark has only ever been in it for the money.

I also heard something to this effect from one of the old industry guys.

The profit margins on boards (or blanks or some part of the process) are really slim, apparently. Maybe getting prices up somehow (or increasing their margins) may be what they want (and are trying) to do.

[K-man]

Profit margins,good point.
Correct me if I'm wrong.I understand they[clark]do over 200k blanks per year
If the average price per blank went up 10$...do the math.
Not chump change is it?Thats enought[maybe] to acquire the lastest technology for anyones standards,and possibibly enough left over for some serious RD.
What's the industry going to say...No????Some might,methinks there'll be some screaming,chest thumping,but in the end.
The extra costs would be passed onto the consumer,who will continue to buy boards[me too]



Cuz.....My tongue runneth over.