:: View topic - Let the journey begin

Hello just want to say thanks to everyone on this site for putting out your knowledge and wisdom so others can learn. I have been coming to this site for a while now, just been taking my time reading things here and there and gathering up all the necessary tools to make skis.

Well the time has come and I'm ready to start making my skis I have all the tools still putting the final touches on some materials but that wont be to hard.

So first off I had the hard choice of what kind of press. Ended up going with a vacuum press due to how simple and easy it is. I purchased a decent continuous running pump from a buddy of mine and got all my supplies such as breather fabric, sealing tape, and release fabric ect from http://www.jamestowndistributors.com.

Using mdf wood for the molding ribs set at 18" wide for two skis at one time. Wood Lath and polycarbonate laminate lay over the ribs. Much like Boardcrafters setup minus the box it was set in.

Once i had all of that I started to toy around with snoCAD-X for a long time never could get the right rocker profile I wanted from it so ended up making my own camber profile in adobe.

For the ski I got must of my supplies from http://www.store.skilab.com I'm using 4001 Grade NATURAL PTEX for the base, the edges from the store, vds black tape, UHMW topsheet material natura, and Fiberglass, Triaxial 22 oz.

The core is the one thing I have not started yet. Going to get rolling some time this week. I will be using vertical bamboo lumber from a local lumber liquidator. The core is not going to have sidewalls or tip/tail spacers. Instead the skis will be thinned out to around 1.5mm in the tip and 2mm in the tails. The core will also be rabbeted for the edges teeth.

One other thing I still need to pick is epoxy, going to go with Marine Epoxy Resin and Slow Hardener so it can just sit in the vacuum bag and cure in room temps. Most likely from West System.

Welcome Backyard skier!

Looks really good! You will have a great time building them.

I have been using west for a couple of skis and sowboard and I say go with the fast hardener. You will still have time enough for layup.

Good luck!

I say go with the fast hardener.

How long does it take the fast hardener to cure? Just trying to get an idea of the time frame there is with it.

You have about 50 minutes I think. Mix in 2 or more portions, thats bettter. It's cured after 8 hours in the press. Then you can take it out and let it cure/rest on a rac fo a couple of days before you start working on it.

Ok I will try it out when the time comes, which might be pushed back now. The lumber place I planned on getting my bamboo from only sells it in 12" lengths. So making a new game plan for the cores.

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/hardener-selection-guide/

I would say go with the slow hardener. Your first layup will take longer than you think.

Not to mention the time to get it sealed in the bag, wrinkles out etc.

When I was using west I'd spend the better part of the day preping materials, mold, dry layup, etc.

Then layup late afternoon/ evening, let it suck overnight.

Wake up and pull it out of the bag. Then start the process all over again.

sam

I Second That - I usually plan for a quick layup... but by the time i get everthing ready and the skis in the bag pressing... its now 10pm.

Seems to be the case everytime, theres always one more thing to....

I also leave mine over night under vacuum, then its like Xmas eve... cant sleep... just want to open that new present!

Just finished the top-sheet design.

Going to be printing this pretty soon on some matte paper.

Had to take some steps back due to moving to a new place, had to clean out the basement it hasn't been cleaned since 1997 at least that is what the newspaper i found down there said. Just finished the new workbench. Turned on my band saw and the blade snapped that was scary.

I love the true grit of the cellar-dweller ski builder! Doesn't look like much head room.

You got to work with what you got. As for head room there is some but not much.

Got to cut up two sheets of mdf today for mold ribs. Downside my jig saw broke yet another step back, but not for long picking one up tomorrow. Getting there with baby steps ha.

You cut all those with a jig saw?? Your a real man!!!