So, seems like people that are using bolts all recommend to go with grade 8, from what I remember. After looking at the actual numbers though, i think i should be fine with grade 5. my press design is nearly identical to the kingswood one. there will be 14 bolts, top and bottom holding the thing tog...

what are the specs on the cat-track material?

great, thanks. Iggy, do you know what wall thickness the stuff you used was?

hmmm. i considered steel, but thought aluminum would be a better choice due to its rigidity. I will look further into using steel now.
Any comments by people that are using aluminum?

What dimensions of tubing are people using for their cat tracks? As Im amazingly slow, I still haven't quite finished my press. I really need to get it done now, so after a pretty long break, I am buying the cat-track. I was thinking of using 1/8" wall 3/4" square aluminum box tubing. Woul...

no, though i have also noticed this since. when i order my new, wider one, I will most definitely call. it's unfortunate. i prefer the retain industry where everyone is concerned about making individual consumers happy. in the big world, they could care less about me and my small orders. it's no fun...

they never answered my request for a quote. i ended up going through OEM: not stoked. I also screwed up on my end and tried to cut costs by getting a smaller blanket. I went too small, especially for my double ski press. if anyone wants a 4"x85" wide blanket, let me know.

^ this is exactly what I was going to say. the a difference in height changes the stiffness (and strength) significantly more than a change in width.

I did not have a thermocouple put in. I wanted the flexibility to be able to experiment and move the thermocouple around to achieve the most successful results. They can be purchased separately for quite cheap.

ya, i think that's about right. I think I screwed this one up a bit as I was trying to save (in the end, it's going to cost me more). anyways, when all was said and done it cost around $235.

I have a blanket i purchased from OEM in the spring. i still haven't started making skis but realized that I was really dumb when I purchased this blanket. it is too skinny for me, but should be fine for single skis. 4"x75"; 120V; 600W; 36" leads. If someone has a wider (10"+) bl...

i dont know about calculating or comparing to bolts. but that doesnt surprise me a whole lot. I do know that a proper weld should be at least as strong as the metal that was joined. so if you were to weld steel, it should be pretty solid. that doesnt really help, but i havent posted anything in a wh...

my apologies for the typos etc. i am very tired.

I know that there are better forums like tgr and telemark tips or the canadian avalanche association web-site, but i thought i would throw this out here. I am pretty new to backcountry travel on snow and will be needing my first beacon for the coming season. i am well aware that the best beacon is t...

that's exactly what they do. it was in the product videos a few years back when they first introduced the idea (i think it was the year with the pink/black checkered invader base). i've heard line doesn't make the most durable skis, though ive never had a pair myself, but i don't think it would make...