Mast Building Method

[Blackrat]

The sand banks are okay , it's the rocks you gotta watch out for

But yea good idea with the leash

If possible can you vac bag the laminations that you are putting on ? Will get a better bond

Also wrap tow around the mast over the layup as this will stop it from just delaminating

[TomW]

Bagged it and now grinding. It's a lot of messy and dusty work. The carbon dust gets everywhere.
Was trying to finish before trip to Mexico, but now given up. Will focus on finishing for use at home this spring.
Taking Moses 93 cm strut on trip.

I have to concede that the commercial prices for the struts is reasonable. I can make kite surfboard in 25- 30 hrs to pro level, this is taking at least as much work and is no way near pro level....

[Lev737]

Hi!You could create beams (or stringers) just cutting shaped foam or wood core in 2 or 3 pcs, and create your stringers wrapping the peices with carbon.
I did build my board with the foam core and my wings with the wood core using this method- and it works well...

[Lev737]

Hi!
You could create beams (or stringers) just cutting shaped foam or wood core in 2 or 3 pcs, and create your stringers wrapping the pieces with F/G or carbon.
I did build my board with the foam core and my wings with the wood core using this method- and it works well...

[Lev737]

Hi!
Here is my future plan building the mast.
Regards

[downunder]

HI Lev,

thanks for sharing. One thing tho, the easiest method for the mast 'stringers' is just buy them The carbon rod or even a square tube is way more cheaper than investing significant time and effort in building it. That is, IF is possible to buy cheap.

If you're planning to build a mast with bolts (looks like bolts on top from the above), my experience is that the 'jig' is needed for the bolts to end up perfectly aligned and square on mast. The is where my bolts are a little bit off. Next time will definitely make a jig.

I am still quite busy with other commitments, but will try to post the mast 'twist' test results soon.

Cheers

[Lev737]

HI Lev,

thanks for sharing. One thing tho, the easiest method for the mast 'stringers' is just buy them The carbon rod or even a square tube is way more cheaper than investing significant time and effort in building it. That is, IF is possible to buy cheap.

If you're planning to build a mast with bolts (looks like bolts on top from the above), my experience is that the 'jig' is needed for the bolts to end up perfectly aligned and square on mast. The is where my bolts are a little bit off. Next time will definitely make a jig.

I am still quite busy with other commitments, but will try to post the mast 'twist' test results soon.

Cheers

Thank you, downunder!

You right- the cheapest and easiest way is to use square shape tubes.
Also, if your top and bottom of the mast are straight, it will be easy to keep square.
You bolt the U-channel with the nut and bolt configuration, wrap it with F/G and just force it into the top and bottom of the mast.
Please see attached pictures.
Regards,
Lev

PS
I really like this forum- very friendly and lots of ideas to digest!

[downunder]

Today I've made an effort and continued with a mast build.

This time making a fuselage/mast connection. The idea is to "embed" the mast into a fuselage just enough to hold it in place. Than I'll wrap it with heaps of carbon.

But man, this is not easy. Took me 4 hrs to get is right. First I trace the mast shape onto a fuselage, than cut the fuse carbon with Dremel:

IMG_0160 (Small).JPG (98.25 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

And that is interesting. I've poured epoxy into the carbon tube to get the compression strength where the 'bolts and nuts'
are. But the cut carbon almost pealed off with almost no effort in taking it of the cube. Hmmm...

IMG_0161 (Small).JPG (114.49 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

Here it is, the mast goes in and will wrap everything making hopefully a nice connector:

IMG_0163 (Small).JPG (64.31 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

And the alignment test, all square OK:

IMG_0164 (Small).JPG (77.76 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

Enjoy

D.

[rynhardt]

The carbon tube maybe still had some release agent on the surface?

[downunder]

Indeed that might be the case. Did not take this into account from the inside, since inside is not that polished. Something to think next time