Alaia3- veneer composit

[zob]

that is one over engineered Alaia:)

Engineering part of the hoby costs nothing and it contributes to the developing part of it.
In the end it might all be all worth it if the board is sweet, or at least you learn something if you fail.

congrats on a sale

Not sure what you mean? You buy it (the idea)? I have not sold any boards in my life, specially mine (OK 1, few years back), because I'm having hard time leting them go.

By press do you mean a proper pneumatic press with a air bladder or what?

No, I use 10 screw clamps. For compression I use 5 cm thick PU foam sheet. Works great.

So wide area it's interesting how the air bubbles disappeared.

It is hard to get anything out from under the TPU sheet, specially in combination with UD FG, because no air will go out by sides, but you have to force it the long way. I use a credit card to force out as much as I can before pressing.

[zob]

I've been bussy, so still no video of Carving in chop with Alaia3.
I just finished Alaia 3+ with the 2nd core part construction (see previous page).
It seems it has pretty much the same flex as Alaia3. Maybee it has slighty more flex, but if you would tell me they are the same, I would believe you.
Since I already folowed Downunder with the choice of Bamboo , and since he is lately adding also some Carbon, I did to . See the letters

Small Album




This is the result of screw press. You can see the GF structure trough the 0,4 mm Topsheet, throughout the whole board, and it shines (so much, that it is hard to get a photo).

[downunder]

Ok,

This is awesome board.

Double points for a bamboo too:)

panda.jpg (14.12 KiB) Viewed 3620 times

Triple for adding a topsheets, and the list continues...Rails?

I can't imagine how much epoxy is squeezed out when pressing, having the surface with no air bubbles. For example, my Zebra veneer is not sealed resulting in a micro 'Vulcans' or air coming out as a tiny bubble.
I fix that with water sanding and applying a 'hot' epoxy coat (whatever the name). But that is not happening with bamboo ply and the surface is usually ultra smooth.

What's the bamboo veneer price in Slo? Here is $30-40 per sheet (~410x1800).

Heh, carbon is good but pain to work with for letters:) I'm planing something else, you'll see. If I can crack this, it would be the Holly grail for me!

LP Miha

D.

[zob]

Jezus, pandas are going to be hungry

Rails are not protected (boat varnish- 5 layers) since they are not exposed due to "beveled bottom". OK, one part is exposed- the area near the tail, where the board sits the lowest when edging. If you run through a rock or stone, it can make some damage when exiting the bottom. Denser top veneer should further minimize this kind of damage, and I have to stop riding it on solid objects (just a bad habit ).

I'm very economical, when it comes to epoxy . I mix just enough and when I finish the job, I weigh the leftover and adjust the next time. My heart hurts when I see a video of Surfboard builders. What is excess from laminating one side for them, would be enough for me to make the whole board.
For instance for bonding 2 veneer layers I mix 65 g of resin + 26 g of hardener (max. excess in cup up to 5 g of mix), for laminating a Top sheet part (see previous page) I mix 200 g + 80 g (up to 20 g of excess in cup). No drips, no spills.

Bamboo sheet (same format) is @ 14 €. Since Alaia is a bit wider, adding additional (lighter) strip was a must, so it is roughly 34 €/ board + cuting and blunt joining by melting glue (since melting thread would remain visible).

For letters, I simply made a preplam from carbon sheet leftover, trace them, cut them, sand them. I guess a purchased prelam would look nicer.

Cheers,
Zob

[zob]

Yeah, 've been quite bussy with snowboard, but managed to put something up. Enjoy!

[zob]

What!? I didn't post a video of Alaia 3+ here yet, while Alaia 4 Session is already finished and waiting for wind?! I hope soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOs8Gp1nDCY

p.s.: I love the new "insert video button". This one is for Toby

[zob]

Here is a glimpse of new Alaia4Session, and the board construction goes like this:
-----------------------------------------------
0,4 mm- ptex topsheet
280 g/m2- Panda™ FG
0°- 1,5 mm- ash veneer
-----------------------------------------------
90°- 1,4 mm- ayous veneer
0°- 2 mm- ayous veneer
90°- 1,4 mm- ayous veneer
------------------------------------------------
top sheet part again (reversed )
------------------------------------------------

Max. thickness is 9 mm.
Edge, tip and tail are sealed off with ptex material.

So to conclude:
It is smaller, lighter, improved rugged and waterproof design, adjusted pad position and design, added kick pad.
Did I already say that I am anxious for some wind.

Photo Album

[TomW]

Zob,
Cool stuff, I can tell you like shop work and process.

You should consider using a vacuum bag over or completely around your rocker form. There are super durable TPU bags you can put your entire rocker form into, seal end of bag with special clamp that comes with bags, and pull the vacuum. Bags are Reusable. Other option is to use one sided TPU film and seal all around, but it uses expendable film and sealing tape, which can cost you 10-20 euros a board.

I bet you will get much less air bubbles.

Why don't you use this layup?
Bottom...
TPU sheet
Glass
0 degree veneer
45 d veneer
45 d veneer
Repeat to build thickness if necessary ( thickness creates stiffness) not skins.
0 degree veneer
Glass
TPU sheet

I would carefully coat only edge of board with epoxy, Epoxy impregnated wood is very water resistant. Boat varnish sits on top.

[downunder]

Hey Zob,

have you got some spare tpu? How much is it? MIght be cool to meet in Ljubljana or somewhere on Adriatic, in ZG till mid January

On the rails note, my reasoning is it's more important to protect rails from denting or hitting it. I've dropped my boards number of times and just epoxy sealing wouldn't cut it.

Good job!

D.

[plummet]

Real nice man. Real nice! I like the carbon zobless inlay. Wicked.