:: View topic - epoxy pigment

where can i buy epoxy pigment? is it common at hardware stores?

You should be able to find epoxy pigment at most plastics stores and I'm sure boat/marine suppliers will have some pigments too. They usually come in liquid or paste forms for about $5 for a small bottle. I would recommend the paste form if you're looking to create a colored epoxy that is opaque and the liquid form if you want a transparent look.

I use refill colours for copic or pantone(tria) markers. you have an endless variation of colours and they are very easy to mix. Great for transparent. Never experienced any bad influence on the bonding or strength.

How hot can P-tex get?

I've got pre-preg materials and an autoclave at my disposal. The pre-preg materials require a cook of ~250F for 1 hour in the autoclave. Will this damage the P-tex?

I'm not too sure how hot P-tex can get without becoming damaged. None of our presses are heated so we've never had to deal the issue.

I can only point you to these guys Durasurf. They should be able to help you out.

By the way, where did you get the pre-preg?

Thanks Kam, I'll drop them an email.

I work for a company that makes pre-preg carbon stuff. I had a good idea the other day for how I can tool up up a ski that will enable even an imbicile like me to laminate it. We'll see if it works. I'll keep you posted.

btw, so glad I found this site. It rocks, thanks so much.

For those who care, Durasurf has told me that 250F at 80psi for 1+hour will not harm their P-tex.

Interesting that this is a HUGE difference from the Nordic-racing-nerds who tell me that passing a 125F tuning iron too slowly over the base while waxing can "burn" your P-tex and affect performance. HA!

Let's 'clave some skis!

Carbo:

that's what i want to hear: real information. i hope this encourages others to post similar info so we can build a HUGE database for other builders. anyway, thanks for your efforts.

send us some photos of your skis when you get a chance. we'll be more than happy to post them on this site!

carbo id have to say that some of us XC guys can by a pain when waxing but the slow iron has to do more with hurting the basewax that u have built up

Got some more info from the nice people at Crown Plastics, if anyone cares, probably way more info than most home builders want but.....

Gotta give 'em credit for thorough customer support. Answered my needs well.

peace.

Carbo: thanks for posting the info! it's very useful to know.

Looking through this, and other sites, a home user can get an idea of standard dimensions of stuff. But it's not laid out nicely anywhere to get a design going before

good idea.

- edge cross-section (H X W) = 1.2-1.5mm X 1.2-1.5mm

- base thickness = 1.2-1.5mm

- topsheet thickness = 0.6mm

- inserts: height = 5-7mm ; diameter = M5,M6 ; flange = 1/2" diameter

How thick is the damping rubber that is often used.

I've got rolls of .055" (Dina h?).

Probably have to use a few plies for tip spacers, not sure how that will work....

stupid question:

if the inserts are only 7mm tall (add 2-3mm for the counterbore?) how do they make it through a 12mm core?

yeah, we have to counterbore the core so that inserts sit flush with core's top surface. i'm trying to find an insert supplier so that we can get some longer inserts (9-11mm in height). all of the inserts that are available to us right now are designed for snowboard cores which are much thinner than ski cores.

also about the rubber damping material. i don't have any on hand to measure and i can't seem to remember the exact thickness but our strips are very thin. they have a similar thickness as those flourescent pink powder cords that some people leave dragging 50ft. behind them on big storm days.

are snowboard binding inserts the same as alpine ski binding inserts?

^ oops, i mean the diameter of the inserts.

pretty much. inserts are rarely used by ski manufacturers especially for alpine skis because of the lack of binding standardization. the companies that do use inserts (K2 and Line) use modified versions of snowboard inserts. K2 uses a smaller diameter (M5) insert, while Line uses the standard M6 diameter insert (i think?) with additional threads located on the outside diameter of their inserts so that they can be drilled into the core.

but you can use any size insert you want. simply find t-nuts of the desired size and put them in your core. you'll have to seal off the ends of the t-nuts though to prevent them from getting ruined by epoxy during layup.