Ski Builders Forum

finally got my 1 ski press finished! just need to shorten the fire hose (its a little long).

Got to make a 'catrack' then start to profile cores.

im struggling to understand how a 'planer crib' works - trying to get my hands on a thicknesser but after reading some posts on here im confused?

once i have some cores sorted (probably all poplar) with tip spacers, can get the first pair laid up!!

here are some pictures of the press http://s1189.photobucket.com/albums/z423/Tcasselden/

any tips or comments greatly received! - some advice on good sources of poplar or bamboo for the UK if anybody knows some would be helpful too!


thanks

tom

Basically the planer pushes the blank into the shape of the crib as it goes through.

Nice press! Pretty narrow, but definitely workable.

On the core planing... when using a planer, you are effectively cutting a flat face on a warped board (the core is mushed into the crib shape and cut flat) so when it relaxes it ends up with a reverse profile as the crib. I was confused at first too, but it works like magic.

oh right, so the planer crib is just a female mould, then the thicknesser rollers force the material into the mould and cut a flat surface across the top? leaving the finished profiles bowed the wrong way, but the pressure when pressing pushes them into shape!

simple i suppose!