NSW
1610 posts
hey guys has anyone shaped a SUP Blank with rocker cut in. Expanded Polystyrene Foam from shapers (len ridge). what did you think is the foam consistant to shape user friandly did it shape well with planner surform etc?
did the finish weight turn out light? with the cut rocker what design program did you use to design it in ,as i use a surfcad program for my shortboards, also where do you get the sorftware ? would you recomend useing this foam again? any other imformation would be greatful.
or dose anyone know of a shaping machine in sydney that can cut a sup?
NSW
70 posts
Hey DAN
I have just finished shaping board - i just got EPS in VH grade from AC polystrene at regents park , i got in a block form heaps cheaper than formed blanks ,and it all EPS same foam just different densities. vh grade was quite fine and not too bad to plane and surform (but sticks like sh .. to your cloths)
My finished blank 8'8 x 29 x 3 3/4 weighed 3.15kg - 3.4 kg with foam sealer coat on.Could use lighter grade would be okay too. I hollowed out certain sections of blank to make lighter but still retain surface hardness ( i will post some photos later of board etc)
BRAD
NSW
1610 posts
thats sounds great Brad but the reason im looking at the shapers blanks is that the rocker comes cut in the bottom curve which i recon would save a tone of time also i didnt want to buy a block as i have no hot wire equipment and have never hot wired before, how thick was the block you brought? did you hot wire it for the rocker /bottomcurve? that sounds like the measurements im chasing too i recon that will go good keen to see your photos
cheers Dan
892 posts
Hotwiring is easy - you need a length of nichrome wire (~$2 from jaycar or similar) a car battery (or charger), and some pieces of wood to make a frame to pull the wire tight.
Cut out your rocker template (one for each side) from some thin scrap plywood (even cardboard will work if you're careful) and mark 100mm intervals with numbers. Pin the templates to your foam and make sure they're lined up, then get a mate to guide one side of the wire while you 'call' the numbers and guide your side. This ensures that you both move at the same speed.
You can cut the deckline at the same time, which will save you even more time than just having the bottom curve cut in.
The secret to a good cut is consistent cutting speed, plenty of wire tension, and letting the heat cut the foam rather than dragging the wire through. In a perfect cut, the wire should never actually touch the foam. The heat radiated from the wire should melt the foam around the wire - this allows the wire to remain perfectly straight.
It'll only cost you a couple of $ to set up the hotwire, and then you can use it to cut the outline as well. Heaps cheaper than a pre-cut blank if you're doing a one off, and you can say that you did ALL of it yourself.
NSW
283 posts
Col Twycross at customsup.com.au has a shaping machine at Narrabeen and I think he shapes polystyrene blanks as well as the pu blanks that he prefers for his own boards.
NSW
1610 posts
thanks for your help guys
