Raven Arks
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:36 pm
Last week I pressed my first set of skis. I have taken picture, but the school security system is disabling my pictures so far. Things went pretty well. Firstly, I gave the system a trial run. I had missalignment problems but I will go ahead and test the skis. It will give me feedback about the flex patern. If the Flex is right I will start a second pair just like the first. One ski came out clean and the other one had the problems.
I had cut out my veneer top sheet to size so I could look down on the skis in the mold and align them in my vacuum system.
Ski Spect
180 Raven Arks
Concept: A light all round cascade back country ski with a eye on cascade pow. Increased the shovel width and height to help the skis break trial more easily and ride high in powder.
Top Sheet:Doug Fir Vertical Grain Veneer
Reinforcement: 20 oz Triax
2mm Front, 12mm platform, 3mm tail
Reinforcement: 20 oz Triax
Vibration Tape on sides 160 cm long
Base: Unsure but black and orange.
Dimensions: 128 95 115
Questions / Problems I encountered:
1. A small leak near one tail reduced my vacuum which may have resulted in the slight concave visible on the bases just inward from the tip and tail spacers. Possible solutions might be using a stethascope or plastic tube to listen for leaks. In addition would a pressure guage connected to the far side of the mold be a good idea, or just another opportunity for leaking.
2. My core slipped sideways and I couldn't tell it with the quilt batting. It is some 3/16 inch off. I need to work on an allignment system.
3. My one tip spacer slipped up on the core creating the ugliest blemish. An unsmooth base profile. Would veneer tape work to keep the core and tip spacers approximated. Or does epoxy disolve the veneer glue.
4. Should I prebend my bases with the metal edges attaced so they generate less resistance to the vaccum.
5. My offset has left one metal edge to be touced up with epoxy and one side wall cut through.
This process is incredibally cool. I can't wait to post the pictures. I may do it on my personal web site and just put in a link.
I had cut out my veneer top sheet to size so I could look down on the skis in the mold and align them in my vacuum system.
Ski Spect
180 Raven Arks
Concept: A light all round cascade back country ski with a eye on cascade pow. Increased the shovel width and height to help the skis break trial more easily and ride high in powder.
Top Sheet:Doug Fir Vertical Grain Veneer
Reinforcement: 20 oz Triax
2mm Front, 12mm platform, 3mm tail
Reinforcement: 20 oz Triax
Vibration Tape on sides 160 cm long
Base: Unsure but black and orange.
Dimensions: 128 95 115
Questions / Problems I encountered:
1. A small leak near one tail reduced my vacuum which may have resulted in the slight concave visible on the bases just inward from the tip and tail spacers. Possible solutions might be using a stethascope or plastic tube to listen for leaks. In addition would a pressure guage connected to the far side of the mold be a good idea, or just another opportunity for leaking.
2. My core slipped sideways and I couldn't tell it with the quilt batting. It is some 3/16 inch off. I need to work on an allignment system.
3. My one tip spacer slipped up on the core creating the ugliest blemish. An unsmooth base profile. Would veneer tape work to keep the core and tip spacers approximated. Or does epoxy disolve the veneer glue.
4. Should I prebend my bases with the metal edges attaced so they generate less resistance to the vaccum.
5. My offset has left one metal edge to be touced up with epoxy and one side wall cut through.
This process is incredibally cool. I can't wait to post the pictures. I may do it on my personal web site and just put in a link.