Ski Builders Forum

Hi everyone,
Quick question. My cores crack/split quite easily along the grain in the tip and tail. They are 2mm thick. I am guessing as long as I keep it flat when pressing the epoxy will fix this up? Incorrect? Thoughts?

Should be alright, Ive had a couple where the glue line came apart and they look and ski pretty darn good.

sam

Nordicas cores arnt even glued togather when they hit the cassette

Thanks guys, first build so I'm a little antsy

yea i think everyone's had this issue at the tips when we get down to a 1.6-2mm tip. you can always just re glue it with wood glue if it scares you.

Good luck with the first build man!

Nordica - the old video of the wood shop used to show a guy stapling the stringers, but that's no longer the case.

Probably not 100% relevant to your problem, but I will put this in here anyway rather than starting a new thread.
I have been using a flush trim bit to cut the ends of my cores to length.
Always had trouble with the router exiting the cut and splitting the laminate along its glue lines. I would try to climb cut from the other side to complete it, which would mostly work. At worst it would actually chip a piece of core off when it would exit the cut and I would have to try and glue it back on.
This is wood working 101, but I like a lot of other on here I would guess, were not experienced woodworkers prior to starting ski building. The last cores I did I supported the cut with another piece of core cutoff and it stops the router breaking off the edge of the core when you exit the cut.
Support your cuts - woodworking 101 apparently

Support your cuts - woodworking 101 apparently - Right on Falls.

I use a similar method where the core is supported by the end of the table. But I use a jigsaw with a downward cutting blade and a speed square as a guide.

I use my chop saw. radial arm saw, or my table saw with sled. Which ever is not covered with ski building stuff ;-) Router or Jig saw were not two that i would have considered, very interesting techniques.

Another core related question. As I am not using sidewalls would I still need to cut my core out exactly to shape before pressing? I was thinking I would leave it slightly oversize and trim this when I cut the board out. Is this dumb? I can still rabbet (sp?) For the edge prior

Leave it over sized by a few mm or so on each side. You can still rabbet for edges, just account for the additional wood sidewall.

Thanks skidesmond. Also, i have heard people rabbet by eye so any extra gap will just fill with epoxy or does it need to be perfecto.

Using a fence or roller guide on your router makes it super easy to get a tight rabbet. I give it about 1 mm of wiggle room.

Just use a rabbet bit with a guide bearing. I use a 1/2 inch rabbet at .8mm. I know I'm mixing units...

Your rabbet width may vary depending on your sidewall thickness and how much you leave as extra that gets cut off in the flash. I leave ~3 mm in the flash.