Board making using Blue Foam.

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crashtestdummy
crashtestdummy
VIC
63 posts
VIC, 63 posts
13 Nov 2004 2:53pm
I like how easily blue (styro)foam can be shaped and I understand it's compatiple with epoxy resin. Has any one made any kite surfing boards using Blue foam ?
Any tips you can give me? Does it have problems with compression once its covered with carbon or Kevlar. What weight cloth (& type) is needed to stop compression or other technique should I use?.
Haven't used divinicell either (don't know where I can get small pieces from in Melbourne) how do they compare to each other to work with
bluejuice
bluejuice
WA
334 posts
WA, 334 posts
13 Nov 2004 12:50pm
I use blue foam inside sailboards but... The weight of the foam has just increased by 36% the australian distributer has told me it's because they have changed the blowing agent and the weights of the foam are only the minimal weight,So I rorked out the blue foam is now about 39/m it's now a lot harder to shape as it's more dense. I am looking for another source of closed cell extruded polystyrene other than the dow chemicals blue foam. Does any one out there know of another manufacturer???? From experience and talking to other board manufactures glass over the foam will delaminate easily as the foam compresses in and stays compressed in, but the covering glass flexess back out to it's origional shape leaving a delamed area. I have made blue foam boards covered with 5 mm divinycell sandwhich that still look like new after 3 years of hard use by No 1 W.A. wavesailer in Greenhead.

a.k.a. KA202
crashtestdummy
crashtestdummy
VIC
63 posts
VIC, 63 posts
13 Nov 2004 4:04pm
Are you saying that that divinicell doesn't compress as much as Blue foam? What are the differences between divinicell & Blue foam?. Sounds like the new blue foam will be less prone to compression if its more dense? Maybe thicker footpads will take the extra shock?
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
13 Nov 2004 7:21pm
I've also used the old blue foam, when I bought it it came in several densities I think the stuff I got was about 40Kg/M3.
As blue juice says, if you only use cloth on it it delams quite quickly.
The most comon D-cell density is 80kg/M3, 3mm of that with a layer of 200 gm/M2 cloth each side is about right for most of the board, under the feet area you could add the same weight carbon for good luck.
The guy who sold it to me, told me not to try bending it, as it's much stiffer than ordinary styrofoam.

If you can't source divynicell, try herex, actually I prefer it d-cell it sands a bit better.


decrepit
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
13 Nov 2004 8:17pm
Blue Juice,
Have you checked here,
http://www.dow.com/webapps/lit/litorder.asp?objid=09002f13801a80cf&filepath=/noreg

looks like they still make a variety of densities, trouble is I don't see a date anywhere, does this look like the old or new stuff????
My memory isn't that good these days, (not called decrep for nothing) but the "LT" range looks familiar, so I'm probably wrong about 40 Kg/M3 and this is the old stuff that is now closer to 40. (ramble, ramble, ramble)

Don't think anybody else makes this stuff, do they make low density d-cell, I've seen some 40 Kg stuff?


decrepit
bluejuice
bluejuice
WA
334 posts
WA, 334 posts
13 Nov 2004 11:00pm
Hi Decrepit I have been using the IB which is stated as 28kg but the last block I bought with IB stamped on it was 39kg, This 28kg is the minimum weight it will ever be and not go below that. I was told the new blowing agent is more enviromentally friendly but causes an increase in the weight of the foam and that extra weight probably doesn't matter when its being used for its primary purpose of insulation, thanks for looking though
I dont think they make div very light.
I will find a new source!

a.k.a. KA202
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
14 Nov 2004 8:02pm
Good luck bluejuice, if you find something, could you let me know please.

When my block of ordinary white stuff is used up, it would be nice to go back to closed cell.

The low density urethane that stony uses is a possibility, (Burford blanks from Colin Earle) but you're limited to their blank size.

Checked d-cell and herex etc, but it's only for the external sandwich, minimum density is 40, and it doesn't come very thick.

decrepit
bluejuice
bluejuice
WA
334 posts
WA, 334 posts
14 Nov 2004 9:25pm
decrepit my current board(experimental) is made from that ultra light stuff from Burford. I like to test them for a while It's 10 months old and seems to be holding up. The Burford foam has no where near the compression strength of the blue foam.
Crashtest d I've been thinking if I made a K board I'd buy a sheet of 8mm div or heirex cut out 3 plan shapes put a layer of 200gm glass and epoxy between 1st and 2nd sheet then again between 2nd and 3rd sheet Put this in a vac bag to stick em all together, place the bag ontop of a pre shaped rocker bed and weight it down while it all dries to shape in the bag, then pull it out and reshape the deck & rails, then put on the outside glass.

a.k.a. KA202
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
15 Nov 2004 7:55pm
Blue juice,

Hardy's fairly hard on boards, I've done a minor fix to his Stony Fish, that seems to be holding up well, and Stony's using polyester, I think he's allergic to epoxy.

So do you have any idea of it's density??? I guess it varies thru the blank?

decrepit
bluejuice
bluejuice
WA
334 posts
WA, 334 posts
15 Nov 2004 11:16pm
yep theyre about 30kg/m usually with that kind of blank the foam is usually denser near the skin and less towards the middle.

a.k.a. KA202
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