Ski Builders Forum

I've been looking around on the forums for a while, and I've found that a ski looses about half its camber when it comes out of the press. Correct me if I'm wrong. If this is true for the camber, is it also true for the tips and tails? Please excuse my ignorance on the matter, I (obviously) haven't make a pair of skis yet, I'm just trying to find as much information as possible before getting all the way into this.

I'm no expert but it seemed to me that although my skis lost some camber, the tips did not relax noticibly. If they did, I don't think it really would have effected the ski anyway.

I'd second that. I do use tip spacers and do not run the wood all the way up. Might be the reason for not relaxing?
rockaukum

I have found that you don't get any tip relaxation if you use fiberglass tip spacers. But this is just because the fiberglass lays up in the mold and takes the form of the mold without any pressing.

rockaukum wrote:I'd second that. I do use tip spacers and do not run the wood all the way up. Might be the reason for not relaxing?
rockaukum

Interesting, my theory was that a full plastic tip spacer might be causing the relaxation. I haven;t really put a lot of thought into the nature of the internal stresses yet though.
My core extends almost all the way to the ends of the ski, and then there is about 1/2" of plastic tip spacer. No relaxation yet.

Let me add one thing to my earlier statement. The tip spacer material is stored in a roll and has assumed a natural bend that has pretty much the same curve as the tip or tail curve. So at press time it has the bend already in it.
ra

Alright, thanks alot! Tons of help!

I didn't even use tip spacers and the wood didn't relax significantly. Although I had prebent the tips somewhat using boiling water.