I'm building a slalom board with a low densiy eps core. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use on the deck that will wrap around the rails nicely. I want to keep the board as light as possible so core mat is not an option. Ive only ever used divincell on the bottoms of previos boards, never had any success trying to get it around the rails. I also have enough carbon left over to layer one side of the board. Does anyone have any ideas on which side to use it???
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use on the deck that will wrap around the rails nicely.................Answer Divinycell masking tape,leather gloves and a heat gun, pre bend it with the heat gun carefully.
I also have enough carbon left over to layer one side of the board. Does anyone have any ideas on which side to use it???......................Answer Rails and Deck
If you can lay your hands on some airex, it doesn't require heat prebending. But the last lot I got came from NZ. It's also a bit softer for the same density, so it dents easier, but is much tougher and won't fracture any where as easily.
It's possible corecell is similar, think that's available in Perth now.
Something to do with if it's "linear linked" or not.
about the corecell. they have different grades as well as densities.
I;ve mainly used corecell T, but thats for use with prepreg coz the normal corecell type A doesnt handle heat too well. it kinda bubbles up a bit.
i would say go with airex. but if u can get a sample of the fight density give it a go and let us know.
yes u can get corecell from summit chemicals now. last time i went there they tried to tell me they dont make airex anymore, but sound like baloney to me. as if they just wanted me to use corecell instead.
Smithers are you migrating to WA or just want people to think thats where u r from
I have never seen airex before, is it similar to spheretex?
Just wondering whether two layers of 200g carbon without any sandwich material on the deck would be hold up in regards to heel dents etc, any ideas?
Airex is similar to corecell, quite soft and bendy, very easy to use.
2 x 200gms on foam would need a high density blank , I wouldn't do it.
I'd go 3mm H80 divinycell as Juice mentioned, Huntsman are the distributors and if you want light go pre-preg.
This is a 5mm divinycell deck that has been formed as Juice described ready for bagging.
With the right amount of heat it can be folded over on itself without snapping. 
that's the best use of a sun room mr no-one
I've just got a dimly lit garage - I have to keep taking my shaped blank outside so I can see my stuff ups!
Keef - the dcell with the slits in it - once it's bonded to the core/glass do you use micro-balloons to fill in the gaps that are visible on the rails (before you put the top layer on)?
Im currently making a EPS/epoxy 6'5" fish - these tips are GOLD!
yes only use brown balloons fill and sand after cureing,you dont need to vacbag cos cells are filled with balloons,you mite save a few grams with a vac but if your not set up for vacing,just get a bleeder and wrap with glad wrap
How do you get that stuff to stick if you dont vac it? Surely you'd have bubbles all over the place. I reckon your dreamin Keefy.
I guy I know uses a frame with a whole pile of elastic straps, reckons he hasn't had any problems, but I prefer a vac bag any day.
Yeah but how do you get enough even pressure all the way round. I just think it would be risky building a sandwich construction board with no vac. But if you've done it fair game to you.
wot im saying is if you dont have a vac setup, just use the bleeder or peelply the same as you would if vacing and use a fiberglass wheel to apply, extra resin will ooze through the peelply then wrap with gladwrap ,its not as good as vacing but if you havent got the gear it works
Since we are getting onto the subject of vac bagging does anyone have any info on how to convert a fridge compressor for the job of vac bagging? Nice job on bending the d-cell Mr No One how long did ti take you? Do you use any special plastic for the bag? What do you use for the breather layer?
THe fridge compressor as a pump article is on the links for "windsurfing articles", just to the right of the forum threads. A good article.
I got my last vacuum bag from the hardware shop, just a role of builders clear plastic, trouble is it's only joined 1 side. I use a roll of windscreen sealer, it can be stretched out as you apply so you don't need a lot. Use this on 1 end and side. The open end I seal with an aluminium flyscreen end and rubber, just be careful pushing the rubber in, don't use anything sharp!!!!
G'day fellow builders, thanks for the smiley faces.
Smithers, it takes about 30 mins to do the bending with 5mm. 3mm would be plenty for a slalom board or wave and a lot easier to form.
I do use the proper gold bagging tube as used below, it's not cheap ($13 per mtr) but have bagged 12 sides with just one bag and could do another 12, worth it in the long run.
Breather, when bagging 'd' cell almost anything goes. Shade cloth is is best but I have used coremat, doona wadding, chopped strand matt and even the curtains. 
Once it's in the bag as here it goes on the rocker bed with phone books on it so she dosen't twist or end up with more rocker.
Happy bagging
