PU Blank?

[Surferden]

Hi all, I used to make boards years ago and want to go back to my roots and start making some paddlesurf boards.

One of my reasons is its nearly impossible to get your hands on any up to date board here in the UK and not many UK board factorys are embracing sup so...

Instead of using eps and epoxy to start ( a learning curve) I am considering using a normal pu blank and glassing with good ole polyester resin as I have the experience with this process already.

Do I have to go the eps/epoxy root straight away or can I develop these boards in the god ole fashion way? cheers...surferden

[Mahana]

You can use Poly Urethane foam and polyester resin but good luck finding a pu blank big enough in the UK. The learning curve is not that difficult and many prefer epoxy with the slower glass times.

[Surferden]

Hey, Mahana, thanks for replying..there is a company here that does a 12' x 31" x 5" specifically for sup. I will have to plane a lot in to the rocker I reckon but it would make getting a development board into the water a bit quicker as I am familier with this process over eps but I will go that route eventually. Aloha

[Mahana]

Right on, good luck to you. Before taking the thickness off of the bottom remember to take the crown out (if any) and get the deck flat.

[DETH STICK]

hey mahana,
ive made a few surfing sup boards out of PU. they go great.
rails dont shatter as you might think. not heavy(comes in at around 10kg).
feels like a proper surfboard as aposed to a corky moulded pop out.
heres a picture of my latest. 8'3 fish.

[Mahana]

Deth Stick-

I've nothing against pu, I shape it everyday. My point was not to be afraid of different materials. Looking forward to seeing your board!

[DETH STICK]

Deth Stick-

I've nothing against pu, I shape it everyday. My point was not to be afraid of different materials. Looking forward to seeing your board!

Hi steve,
Sorry mate. i addressed the quote wrong. it was just a response to surferden.
no bad vibes inteneded. i was on a computer that wasent working and on dial up, full of the flu. just a newbie mistake.
i couldnt even get the picture to come up. might have to take a day off work to go for a paddle and clear my head up
cheers
hilton

[Mahana]

No worries Hilton, no offense taken. Feel better!

[Surferden]

Thanks you guys, we just cannot get up to date sups here easily, just not a big enough market yet but it will come, guys are to into flat water paddling, thats ok but not my thing, and I am keen to get customs going as our surfboard shapers are to busy and dont want to, or to anti to embrace sup. You have helped me and I'm still deciding which way to go. The only thing for me is that I havent used eps and epoxy although I have just ordered the epoxy 101 glassing dvd as really it is just the finishing that concerns me, but I have made hundreds of boards (surf & sail) out of pu and polyester but I may go down the eps route, I'll let you know how it all goes..cheers  Dennis.

[DETH STICK]

Finally. Heeres the 8'3.

[DETH STICK]

While im at it, heres the 9'6

[midnight999]

Hi surferden, I'm in the UK also and considering making a board, I've never done anything like it before  but I imagine it would be a fair bit cheaper than buying akk the different size boards that I would like, what sort of price range are blanks and where are they available from in the U.K. , cheers for your help

[Surferden]

Hi midnight, I'm working on getting prices, at the moment I reckon the total cost could be up to £400! still cheaper than a mass produced pop out though (all beit there are some good ones) but as I say I am working on the prices and hope this comes down! a blank is in the region of £180.00 +vat. I am just deciding if I will make one out of PU or EPS, a PU will be prettier as the artwork (if you want that) can be far better but eps will be lighter, I could make a PU/Polyester board now having made a lot of boards this way and have been trying to equate why I should use epoxy, far more tempremental in our climate and will need a really dry and warm room for glassing etc. I will keep you posted as to progress if you like as I would like to start to make customs available here in the UK which should workout somewhat cheaper than imports anyway.
You will need to do a lot of fact finding if you havent made a board before but dont be put off, I will help if I can and this forum is really helpful.

[Surferden]

Hey Deth Stick are your boards made using a PU blank and did you glass useing epoxy or polyester?

[Sam Pa'e]

Aloha Guys,
It nice to see guys tackling a project that suit the curiosity of the mind. My hats off to you guys. EPS can be a tough plank to take on & epoxy even harder but at the end you will be that much more knowledgeable.

Dennis,

Hi all, I used to make boards years ago and want to go back to my roots and start making some paddlesurf boards.

I'm curious to see how your board comes out. Don't forget to post the pics!...Good to see you going back to your roots.

Hilton,
That 8'-3" & 9'-6" looks "SICK"........I like the outline (on both boards) and the art work on the 9'6......    WOW  Now that is talent!!!

Steve,
Your brother called me......we talked a bit about the vacuum press. I hear your going to his place to bag some boards.......Nice!

Aloha.....Sam