Finish Up on Tips & Tails

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OnDeck
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:02 am

Finish Up on Tips & Tails

Post by OnDeck »

After a couple of duds I've finally got a board i'm pretty happy with, except for one thing. I can't seem to get a good finish on the tips and tails. This is what I;m doing:

Bandsaw the flash, close to the edge as possible
A belt sander to clean the edges around the tips and tails
A beveled router bit along the edges, as well as the tips and tails
Palm sander to celan up tips and tails

It looks OK, but the tips and tails are still pretty lumpy. Maybe i shouldn;'t be using the beveled router bit on the tips and tails, i.e., cut trim with bandsaw then go straight to a sander?

Any suggestions would be welcome? I'm assuming there is exactyl how to get "pro" finish, and that it is simply a matter of the wrong technique, poor skill, or both.
kelvin
Site Admin
Posts: 262
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 4:56 pm
Location: Jackson Hole

Post by kelvin »

I stop the bevel router before the tip and tail starts to curve and finish with a belt sander. A wet belt sander would be best, but a dry sander would work if you are careful not to melt the plastic and overheat the edges.
OnDeck
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:02 am

Post by OnDeck »

OK Kelvin, thanks. I need to try that next.

Is that how a factory woudl do it? Or do they simply pass the tips accross the grinder? Or is there some unique piece of equipment?
twizzstyle
Posts: 2204
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm
Location: Kenmore, Wa USA

Post by twizzstyle »

"Real" ski companies don't bevel the tips (at least I have never seen any). If you look closely at a pro ski you'll see where they stopped the router before the tip.

Usually its just a dry belt sand (or drum sander, that's much easier) of the tips as well by hand.

The bases are always wet-ground at the factory, but I don't think that's what you're asking.

From the Poor Boyz movie this year, at exactly 0:58 you'll see them sanding the tips (only for like half a second)

OnDeck
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:02 am

Post by OnDeck »

twizzstyle wrote:"Real" ski companies don't bevel the tips (at least I have never seen any). If you look closely at a pro ski you'll see where they stopped the router before the tip.

Usually its just a dry belt sand (or drum sander, that's much easier) of the tips as well by hand.

The bases are always wet-ground at the factory, but I don't think that's what you're asking.

From the Poor Boyz movie this year, at exactly 0:58 you'll see them sanding the tips (only for like half a second)

Great. So once i ditch the bevel I have only my skill to blame.

Thanks for the tip!
OnDeck
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:02 am

Post by OnDeck »

Chrsit, i just watched the rest of the clip. This is the next level.

Not a bad little production set-up, either.
johnsonfredral
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:23 am

re:

Post by johnsonfredral »

thanks for sharing :)
twizzstyle
Posts: 2204
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm
Location: Kenmore, Wa USA

Post by twizzstyle »

OnDeck wrote:Chrsit, i just watched the rest of the clip. This is the next level.

Not a bad little production set-up, either.
I was at the premiere this last Saturday in Seattle. It was ok, there have been better Poor Boyz movies, but it was certainly a great way to get pumped for the season :)
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