Pressure Ding-Free Foam

red · Post by **red** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:09 pm

probably won't help you Scott but I've used these blanks on my last couple of boards. The blanks have harder skins so don't pressure ding, but the soft core means they still flex and feel 'alive':
http://www.oceanfoam.com.au/

BUT
I think this is key for all hard-skin blanks
1) they may be harder to shape (doesn't worry me since mine are machine cut anyway)
2) It's harder to get the resin to stick to them so you get delamination problems. We've learnt to scratch the foam surface a bit to roughen it so that the resin can grip better. On the positive side this means less absorption of resin by the blank (lighter boards that are just as strong)

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:41 pm

personally I like those knee wells,as long as they're not too deep The main problem was the delam factor.Pads have solved part of the problem.
The boards I have now [hart]seem to hold the deck shape better.
What I don't like are those little divots on the bottom!.Bottom starts to look like a golf ball.Heard someone invented a suction device to pop the divit back to flat then inject a filler,then seal....anal....??
What about the vacuum bag technique?Less resin better penetration.too expensive,or just a pain in the arse.

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:25 am

Marky V · Post by **Marky V** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:20 pm

Thats one of the plus points of vacuum formed balsa sandwich eps core boards. Knee wells are a thing of the past (ok if you don't like them, if you do then shape them in!) same goes for the dings in the bottom.
Loads of flex if you build em right.

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:29 pm

Sounds good.And price comparison over foam-glass?And as far as flex,I'm kinda going back the other way.
Some times I get too much vibration,especially around these estuaries.where there's water going in two directions.
Don't think hart would make that kind of move....Will stick with foam-glass.

cheers

Marky V · Post by **Marky V** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 1:21 pm

They are more expensive as they take longer to build, but if you were doing it yourself, price is not that different to pu/pe.
Can build them real stiff too if thats what you like!!
I can't tell you how impressed I have been with this construction method, my first one, built 18 months ago still has no dings at all.

sharkbait · Post by **sharkbait** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:27 am

I have nothing to add to this thread
-just three of my favorite surfers yakkin' --wassup bros?
sb

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 4:08 pm

sharkbait · Post by **sharkbait** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:23 am

Hey Scott-
New Zealand was great! Ill try to post some (bad quality) pictures soon.

Man I'm out of the loop for good surf. One "eh" session in the last month.

sb

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:39 pm

Don't feel too bad Mr Sharky. I've had less and it was crappy at that! Last good surf was in Santa Cruz about a month ago (3/14 to be exact) when I brought board to Freeline to sell. Had I known what was to come I'd have stayed in the water several more hours!