skate building

upthebrackette · Posted: Mar 20, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject: skate building

Hey everyone. I'm trying to build a high end skate and have a couple questions.

Core:
I want to make a foam core and was thinking about ordering a surfboard blank and then cutting it down into the shape that I need. I was wondering if there is a specific density of foam that I should use.

Base:
I want to put in molded fins/channels in the bottom of the board . I'm planning on using a uhmw base and need to know if that will bend or what I will need to do to bend it around the channels. Also is it possible to adhere this base to fiberglass?

Top Sheet:
I was planning on glassing the whole skate with about 4 layers. If it is possible to attach this to uhmw, what type of adhesive works the best? And will 4 layers of glass be enough to keep the top from falling apart or should I look into using PBT?

Rails:
I was planning on using P-Tex rails, but I have not found any supplier with something that is suitable. If anyone knows where to purchase them, please let me know.

Carbon:
Has anyone ever experimented with this before? I was thinking about putting a strip down the middle of the board in between the foam and the glass to add some strength. I was wondering if it would be worth it, or if it would just be a waste of money.

I should have some rough sketches of the design and materials layout posted either tonight or tomorrow so you guys can get a better idea of what I'm talking about for each section. Any information at all would be very helpful. Thanks for all your help!

steveMcMur · Backside 180 Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 657 City: orlando

ya def add carbon stringers to add strength, but you might have a weight issue. by that i mean it will be really light. I would look into maybe making it ouf of epoxy if you want to use a foam blank because epoxy way more stronger than fiberglass. Not sure if it will hold up to the trick abuse.

SleuCrew · Posted: Mar 20, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

upthebrackette, Don't take this the wrong way but... I hope you have a spare a couple grand lying around to build your board.

To do what you want you are going to need a press, molds and excess tooling before you even get started on materials.

You might want to re-think your board, especially if this is your first time building a board.

C-WAY Crew, Umm... Epoxy is what you use in conjunction with fiberglass. It's not a one or the other kind of thing.

jordan · Backside 180 Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 649 City: Spectre

SleuCrew is right, but you might be able to get away with a vac system if you take a few details out...

upthebrackette · Posted: Mar 22, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject:

SleuCrew, I'm going to a school in NY next year for industrial design. The school has all the tools/machinery I could ever need for any project. I was hoping to make a skate for my final project. I know that I probably won't make anything too great for a couple years at least, that's why I'm trying to get some ideas out now so hopefully by the end of school I'll have something sweet and innovative that can get me a job at a skate company.

SleuCrew · Posted: Mar 22, 2007 2:33 pm Post subject:

upthebrackette, Well first thing is first, you need to model your board in cad, then you will need to build cad models for your molds so that you can have your molds made. if you are doing a molded channel or fins you will need to machine two molds.

As far as your core material there are tons of different tooling foams out there although a high quality foam ie: what integrity uses is expensive.

Most large colleges you will have access to a cnc to cut your molds templates, cassettes and other tooling your going to need. Although I highly doubt they will have a pneumatic press there or a hydraulic press that is large enough for what you are trying to accomplish.

My best advice to you is to build a few flat decks to start at home and start doing your homework on materials and work your way up. Your biggest dilemma is going to be getting materials. When we buy materials from our suppliers we buy things in large quantities, this is the only way most suppliers will deal with you and this is obviously not cost effective for someone trying to build 3-4 decks.

You can build an inexpensive vacuum system to start, but it seems to me you have a whole lot of homework to do before you are ready to even start thinking about building a deck.

VonBoggin · Backside 180 Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1666 City: Austin

trial and error my friend

good luck Very Happy