I thought about this more over the weekend as I was watching my press's bladder pressure, making sure the regulator was working properly. I thought first that if you wanted to use water, depending on your water main pressure, you could almost just hook the press up to the garden hose. Or fill the ho...

Has anyone else got a way to vary the length of the ski press base without the gaps of the alternating tip/tail and camber ribs? My mold actually is able to adjust length and I don't use ribs. I am set up to press one ski at a time. For the ends, I just cut several pieces out of 2x4's, (similar to ...

I just finished my first "successful" press of a ski today. A journal will be coming as soon as I get the second one out of the press and snap some pics. A word about epoxy though. I used TAP Plastics brand of surfboard epoxy. This stuff is an MEKP epoxy, and I don't think I will be using ...

For the effort, it might just be cheaper to get a used compressor. I found a used one on Craigslist.org for $40, but I am sure you could find one in your local classified ads for around the same price. I then got a regulator and fittings for another $10 at the hardware store. Plus, with a compressor...

Another Idea I have heard works well for carving is a wavy edge like they use on the some of the Lib Tech Magne-Traction line of snowboards. I was going to try and experiment with this once I get a few pairs of boards under my belt. www.lib-tech.com

I don't plan on giving up any time soon, and in response to your questions: Actually, while delaminating the ski wasn't terribly difficult, it did take quite a bit of effort, and the resin was still a little sticky in some spots. I think it should hold pretty well when complete. I had to chip the re...

Well, I attempted to layup my first ski this last weekend and it turned out as a bit of a disaster. Here are some lessons I learned in hopes that others will not have these problems: 1. My press is a one ski press that uses square steel channel instead of I-Beams, and when I started pressing, I ther...

Yes, I had air leaking around my quick connector, then I got a new connector and it solved the problem.

I just used a 1/4" quick connect fitting and a pipe nut, two washers, and a whole lotta marine sealant. It pumps up to 60psi no problem.

I use a program called Smart Sketch that works pretty well, I think it has a free demo as well

I found the tubing for my press at Morse Steel in bellingham. It is a big warehouse that caters more to the industrial customer. It cost be about $200 for enough steel to make an 8 foot long frame with extra reinforcement. I had them all cut to ten foot lengths from 20 foot lengths so they would fit...

You might try talking to a fire department, or if you have any friends who are fire fighters. I have a friend working on getting me some used fire hose. The fire departments have to get rid of their hose if it has any frays in it and from my understanding they just throw it away. Apparently the hose...

For graphics, I am trying a really simple idea. I am using a clear topsheet, so the wood cores will be visible. This gave me the idea to just stain the cores. My only worry is that the epoxy won't bond well with the stained portion of the ski, but from previous work with epoxy my dad and I decided t...

Hey guys, Awesome site. After I broke a pair expensive skis this year, I decided that I should try making my own, then I found your site. Anyway, I just finished up my press and molds, and I am still trying to locate a firehose, preferably without the fittings on the end. Did you guys get your hose ...