Making a stringered blank :)

[Surfdad]

When blank companies make a blank, they rip the foam in two out of the mold. Glue in a stringer and then clamp it until it dries.

Mat Smedman of Smedman wakesurfers was showing how it did it and I decided I wanted to follow suit. I added one twist though. I'm building a quad and want to run some longitudinal stringers to stiffen up the fin boxes in the low density foam.

This pictures is what the next board will look like

[Surfdad]

I want to add longitudinal support, as well as latitudinal support. The lines on the blank imdicate where I want to add a stringer.

[Surfdad]

Matt S showed me a trick where he attachs the center stringer by just swapping the outside edges as the glue edges becausr they are factory finished. In that way, he doesn't have to plane or smooth the cuts that will attach to the wooden stringer. I did the same thing except I had to hand finish and smooth the two cuts that go rail-to-rail.

My blank cut to pieces

[Surfdad]

I cut the rocker shape into the stringer material, as well as cutting the two latitudinal cross braces. I labeled all the pieces and clearly marked the bottom so that assembly would be quick and painless.

I painted fast cure RR on the foam, as well as, the stinger material and hand laid them up.

Glue up of the stringer and the labeled parts before assembly.

[Surfdad]

Always make sure you have adequate help

[Surfdad]

Matt used a bunch of clamps and tie downs, but I am so lazy! I just stuff it in a bag and pull a vacuum - everything gets lined up while I write it up

[Surfdad]

Out of the bag all glued up.

[smedman]

Looking good Jeff,

I followed a link from WO tonight and started browsing around here. Looks like you are keeping some of your secrets here on TO.com

Here's how I did the glue up (for comparison). This is on a noserider prototype I'm working on. I usually only need 3 clamps for 5ft-ish wakesurfers, but as this one is 8ft I had to "jerry-rig" a few other clamps with some tie downs to make sure I got good adhesion all along the stringer.

I also used Resin Research fast and let it dry overnight. I've used 5min epoxy from HD and Lowes, but the RR seems to give a better hold. Especially on the PVC stringers - they don't like glue and resin that much.

Anyway - here's the glue up:

[Surfdad]

Hey Matt - that blank is so huge! Yeah, I've got to share the love!

This blank, shaped and 1 layer of 6oz curing on the bottom in my hot box.

[smedman]

Looking good jeff -- I do need to get a vacuum someday...

Here's my shaped blank - just need a bit more finishing sanding and ready to glass it up...