Any similar tips for Poly? I hate buying and using acetone. I use less with the UV resin, but would love to find an alternative. Some of the eco-stuff I've looked certainly isn't any cheaper.
Unfortunately not... You just gotta use protection! Acetone itself is not the major problem in terms of health risk, although it is hazardous. The major problem is that it's an excellent solvent, that's easily absorbed by the skin. So what it does is transport whatever it's dissolved straight into you. I swear... you spill that stuff on your foot, you can taste it in your mouth. Nasty, nasty stuff. Just be sure you wear good rubber gloves, elbow length if possible, and use a respirator with cartridges rated for VOCs when glassing.
Thanks man. I've got a proper VOC respirator but it could probably use some new cartridges. It's scary to think that the acetone is carrying any MEKP into my body. Diligence level increased! Pickles, where are the pics of your board?
Just Finished - Made the board entirely by hand with no power tools - Transformed one bedroom apartment in NYC building into work shop: plastic tarp barriers, fan, lamp, buckets for stand, books for weights - Design: Made scale drawing in powerpoint and measured lines - Research: youtube videos, swaylocks, surf supply sights like greenlight and U.S. composites - Tools from home depot: hacksaw blade, sand paper, tape, level, ruler, square, screw driver, razor blades, hand saw, blocks of wood, paint brushes, measuring buckets, rubber gloves, mask, and more... - Materials: 2lb EPS foam, fiber glass cloth of various thickness s and e type, epoxy resin and hardener, spray paint, wood panel, roofing felt, probox fin system and fins, greenlight leash plug, plaster - Most labor: shaping foam and removing stringer material for center fin - Hardest/Trickiest step: Lamination - Funnest step: Sanding lamination - knew it was coming together and it might actually look good - Lessons learned: Don't use tinted plaster for sealer, don't use tinted resin, remove tape from rails before resin is fully dry, lamination takes practice, foam is really messy after shaping, and more after I get to use the board - Time: 2 months from design to finish. working weekends and evenings when I had time - Sad the journey is over but feel it's the best i could do for my first board, can't wait to ride it! - Pics:
Dimensions: 6'1" length, 21" wide, 2 3/4" thick, fish tail, round nose, 4 degree fin cant thruster, no concaved bottom, 4" nose rocker, flat center section, 2" tail rocker, low rails, flat surface, stringer, no flex considerations
good advice here; folks. the cumulative damage of chemicals to humans (shapers/glassers/sanders) is a dirty secret of our sport.
That is redonkulous!!! Excellent job! I had never carved wood before, but I was able to do this little guy from a basswood blank. Maybe I need to try a board, next!
So I finally got to ride the board this past weekend. It worked perfectly! Performed exactly what I envisioned: - lots of volume made it very easy to paddle and catch 3-4 footers - rails and fish tail made it easy to cut - rocker and flat center made it fast enough for smaller waves - volume made it difficult to duck dive, but I didn't make the board for bigger conditions so this trade off was anticipated
