Infusion

[blackeye]

Anyone done any infusion layups?

I've recently watched a lot of youtube on this technique, and it seems to me that its exactly like wet vacuum bagging, but with way more advantages.

This is a favourite. Can't see why it wouldn't work over a polystyrene core with low vacuum and long pot life resin for doing a super low weight board.

[supuk]

Do infuse on to eps you would need to completely seal the blank first. With infusion you are replacing basically filling the areas that would have air with resin which with eps will be around just about every bead. A similar thing happens when you conventualy vac bag a board but as you have a fixed amount of resin you are limiting the amount that will go into the board.

[Dwight (DW)]

Some people think these guys do it. Very secret company.

[PonoBill]

A lot of the people doing infusion are somewhat secretive about their processes. I've done it for car parts--it's particularly good for complex shapes with an open mold. Open molds are about ten times simpler to build than closed molds. My biggest complaint is a high rejection rate and ridiculous waste level. It's tricky to make sure the resin flows into all the corners, and you wind up tossing away the feed lines, spiral vents, vacuum lines, peel ply, and breather if you are shooting for a minimum epoxy to fiber ratio. I might do it for a foil, I'd be hard-pressed to see why anyone would bother for as simple a shape as a surfboard. I watched some guys in Seattle do a boat hull with it--industrial level infusion with barrels of epoxy and tubing running everywhere. They laid up the mold for weeks and then infused it in one shot. It would have scared the crap out of me but it's how they build their boats.

[surfcowboy]

Pono, why would you do it for a foil? What's the advantage over what UK and I are doing with bagging?

[PonoBill]

Foils need the fabric to turn a pretty sharp corner on the leading edge and an impossible corner on the trailing edge. The best way to make one would be a steel or aluminum compression mold, second best I think would be to use PVC or heavy EPS, spray glue carbon and glass layers into place on both sides, and infuse it in one shot. Might bend all to hell, it would depend on the strength of the form and how much vacuum you pulled. Could make a huge mess or it could be slick.

I just gave myself one hell of a headache cutting carbon glued onto maple ply with a GlowForge laser. I need a better vent fan. Probably cost me a few IQ points.

[surfcowboy]

Man, review that glow forge for us. And don't sweat, you got points to spare man. I've learned a ton from you. It's good to acknowledge that from time to time. Hope you know I (and I assume we all) appreciate your experience. There aren't enough smart curious people in the world. This forum has a strong concentration.

I get it on the infusion for the angles. I cheat on the trailing edge by going over and letting the top and bottom meet and then grinding it back to just before it splits.

If I was making a few, I'd for sure consider a mold. But I think this F1 technique has legs. I'm going to try it next. Might even do a mast that way too.

[Dwight (DW)]

I heard those coil surfboards require no sanding.

[blackeye]

I heard those coil surfboards require no sanding.

I'm sold then.

[Surfside]

Those Coil boards are wicked!

My sweat heart owns a Cannibal Mini Bonzer with infused innegra. Super light and durable. I believe he double bags. What a nice product.

http://www.cannibalsurfboards.com/boards.html