I am currently working on a board and I am interested in everybody's opinion/advice. It is my first board and it is also for a school project so the better it it built, the better my mark
I will be using a one sided vacuum press to create the board - just like TomW did (viewtopic.php?f=107&t=2353313). btw tom your blog has been very helpful in planning this! thanks!
The core will be made up of 5 layers of 1/16" birch sheets, cut out to shape (to provide a flex pattern), with ABS rails. The plys will be pressed together, using epoxy as a glue, into one sheet by the vacuum press, which will also give rocker, and concave. I would also integrate the ABS rails at this point. So after pressing i would have a wood core with ABS rails.
Should i put my inserts in right away with the wood layup or put them into the finished core? I was thinking if i put the inserts in right away they could serve as a guide for the other layers when i put them on because the upper layers are smaller and i can't have them moving around when i press them.
After pressing I would glass the top and bottom layers by hand, as well as apply graphics. I was also thinking i might add some carbon strips across from fin to fin (in an 'X' pattern) to keep the tips stiff and add some support and overall stiffness to the board.
That's my rough plan. I suppose I could do it in a one-shot process, but for simplicity and since it is my first board i want to do it in 2 steps.
My board is going to be 5-ply with only one layer with a perpendicular grain. I was then going to add as many layers of glass on top and bottom to stiffen it up as needed. I was thinking 5-6 oz triaxle glass. Will my board be strong enough?
Thanks for your thoughts,
Pete