4.4 out of 5 stars 78. All brands have different Surfboard Construction types you can choose from. We call the breaking point of the board (the whole sandwich) the 'face wrinkling load capacity'. Epoxy resin is the only resin that can be used on EPS foam. Also it is important not to use polyester resin on EPS surfboard as it will melt the foam. February 24, 2020 8 Comments. Some chaps called Joe Quigg and Pat Paterson who took it further, discovered that the lighter and far more manoeuvrable sandwich construction was an immediate success. That, however is not why we are interested in him, Bob was also one of the first shapers to experiment with Styrofoam and the 'sandwich' construction that we take for standard in modern times. If you know this already then I hope to have got most of it correct, please pull me up on any mistakes in the comments, my aim being to spread understanding and not confusion. They are also a lot more flexible, something that has yet to fully be matched with EPS foam. As with anything new there have been many discussions over the benefits and downsides of an epoxy surfboard. Now that you have a better idea of what attributes the different blanks possess, you should be able to make a better decision when ordering. Same board, different constructions. Epoxy adheres to wood much better than polyester does. With no other dominant PU manufacturers to quickly fill the void, EPS made a jump forward as a viable option for board builders. Check the spec sheet for the epoxy you are using as volume vs weight differ slightly. Ding All 24 Ounces Epoxy Resin Kit with 2 Parts Resin to 1 Part hardener For Surfboard Construction, Ding Repairs, and Other Epoxy Repair Projects. I have decided that this has enough juice in it to be another article entirely and I thought, hey, what if no one is interested, this is all fairly geeky stuff after all . There is no doubt about it – epoxy products have a much longer shelf life than resins do. The stoke, the sadness and how the words 'surf' and 'shop' when put together continue to evolve, for the good or the bad. Want to see more EPS surfboards? Epoxy Vs. Fiberglass: An Overview. It is your choice what you order as a shaper. Free entry and a 10am kick off. Behind the scenes at potentially the world's best beach break. It is three times lighter than polyurethane and is more buoyant as well. Our polyester laminating resin is one of the clearest on the market, Sold in 1L, 4L and 20L Drums. If it is your first time reading and learning all this then great. EPS Foam + Epoxy Resin Surfboards. Shrinkage: The shrinkage is high. Soon after that, Hobie had a full blown factory pumping out PU blanks and had appointed Gordon Clark to help with the endeavours. Epoxy costs more than polyester resin. Most poly boards will be more fragile then epoxy because epoxy material is harder than poly. At the end of the day as a surfer it just comes down to what you feel like you prefer. I realise that this might not be the most interesting subject, but it is something that has always fascinated me and not because I am really into the 'nuts and bolts' of the materials and how they perform, but more because I never found two people who agreed about the whys of this strange subject. Epoxy resin is normally less prone to cracks (protected against cracks twice as much compared to polyester resin). If you want to know more on this, check out a previous article on Eco Surfboards - Dispelling Myths.Â. Epoxy surfboards also have polystyrene foams and are coated with an epoxy resin. It is possible to get sucked into a vortex of chemical formulae with different foam densities and variation in modulus but am not sure anyone really want to get molecular at this point. How much more flex? Based in Guethery in the South West corner of France, two true pioneers embarked on a journey of design and... Read more about Surfboard Noses and Tails Explained, Read more about Vintage Surfboard Meet 2019 - Newquay UK, Read more about Shops of Stoke are Dwindling, Read more about Notox Surfboards have the Eco Answer, Read more about S Wings are Biomimetic Fins. mat and 10 oz. Get it as soon as Thu, Feb 11. How To Glass A Surfboard using Epoxy Resin: Make sure the room working temperature is around or above 24º C. Your board should be left clean, and untouched at the same room temperature for 24 hours before glassing, to avoid gassing. Here are some quick (and maybe surprising facts). Epoxy resin is produced by condensation polymerization. Fibre Thickness - Glass fibre comes in two thicknesses and you can choose a combination of these on top or bottom to attain the desired result. You will find this foam in the core of all eco-friendly surfboard constructions. Most do-it-yourselfers understand that epoxy’s adhesive bond is much stronger than polyester, but two additional characteristics might also tilt the scales in favor of epoxy, especially for structural repairs. 6 oz Fibre gives you 50% greater strength, makes the overall flex 50% less more but will increase the weight by 20%. Depending on the catalyst used with the epoxy resin, the working time ranges from 30 minutes to 6 … Julian Wilson boosting on his JS - Air 17 in PU and Air 17 Hyfi (EPS Construction). Aspects of this portal are patented, patent-pending, or patent-applied-for. Polyester allows 20 to 30 minutes working time. Denser Core = Stiffer = Bigger Wrinkling Load Capacity = Same Overall Flex of the Sandwich = Heavier. Density & Cores - As you increase the density of the core it's stiffness is increased, and if you look at the above that means greater strength (Wrinkling Load Capacity) but no actual effect to the overall flex or stiffness of the sandwich as a whole. Hit us up on social media or email if you want to hear more geek stuff, otherwise it's back to the Kelly Slater Wavepool and what colour Alana's pants are. I realise that I have not really touched on the different types of core, the Polyester vs EPS vs what ever new stuff there is out there. It's awesome to know this stuff if you are looking to compare boards and understand not just the different shapes of a board but also these construction variables. Being a touch heavier also helps them to handle choppy conditions better and are less prone to being bounced around. Burford Polyester Blanks. Stiffness & Cores - Are you still with me? For more eco-friendly alternatives, see our Sustainability Page. Joe Quigg helped pioneer the sandwich construction and much more. I would still purchase the same sort of board even though I now know the facts, and my opinion is now an educated one. The closest to the surface the better. To make a hot coat or sanding resin just add surface agent to the S249A surfboard resin. However, the lightweight epoxy surfboard is easier for the surfer to carry. Polyester resin does not cure well as a thin film, so it doesn’t work well as an adhesive. We break down the basics about nose and tail design and what it means to you in the water and helping you... Collectors of vintage surfboards meet at Lusty Glaze on June 16th. It is more flexible and can snap back into shape better than polyester… This can be beneficial for building speed faster also making it become easier to glide through flat sections. per square inch. We also stock filler resin, gloss resin, general purpose resin and acetone products that are used by some of the leading shapers throughout the industry. We are all different and surf different waves. Xtreme is specifically designed for surfboard manufacture. We performed controlled 4-point benchtop tests to answer that question. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Today the core (foam) of a modern sandwich construction surfboard would be roughly half the weight of the overall board. Epoxy resin is stiffer than Polyester, but as the glass fibre (E Glass or S Glass) is much more important to flex this actually has a negligible effect on the overall flex of the sandwich. PU as a construction refers to a surfboard built from a Polyurethane blank with Polyester resin, whilst PE refers to a Polyurethane Blank with Epoxy resin. Environmental Durability This is a kind of 'rule of thumb' measurement. Not only is epoxy resin lighter than polyester, but less is needed per coat. How to tell an epoxy surfboard from a polyester ... would come if you were to try and fix a ding on one of these and you get major foam meltdown as the EPS foam and polyester resin … Epoxy surfboards started to become popular in the 1990's. Under most circumstances, resin makes up a large part of a completed board’s overall weight. I have not been moved from this, even after possibly realizing that there are other options I could and should try. -, Progressive Airs & Sharp Eye Surfboards are a perfect match. Some say the best in the business. As and Aussie friend once said to me, " James, it's just the same as if you prefer Sheela's that are redheads, blondes  or brunettes, what you like is what you like, simple as." This is the story and evolution of biomimetic fins by S-Wings. I am aware that some of you find more relevance in numbers and would rather understand the figures, so for every 7kg/m3 that you increase the core density, you can expect roughly a 4% increase in core weight (only the core weight- remember that core weight is typically accountable for half the overall construction weight). This popularity has been attributed to the closure of the Clark foam factory in 2005, which caused a massive shortage of fiberglass materials. Established in 1985, this classic resin-system is trusted by board shapers and repair gurus world-wide! As a side note (not really tackling eco in this article) the effect on a human handling epoxy is about 10 times less toxic than that of handling polyester resin.The scale of this should be kept in mind though as the process for making the core or 'blank' is around 10, 000 times more toxic than the resins and the cost of transporting aboard from one continent to another eclipses all of these. See our range of Epoxy Surfboards on boardcave.com.au to find your next surfboard. He is considered by most to be the inventor of the 'planing hull' surfboards among many other things surf. Epoxy is the tough resin used in manufacturing our Epoxy Models. Flex - Polyester resin is a stiff resin system and epoxy is more flexible. It’s a little stronger than and also more flexible, allowing it to snap back into shape better than Polyester which is a little more brittle and can lead to cracking. Poly boards tend to be heavier, which means they sit lower in the water, making them the ideal design for riding barrels. Polyester off-gases VOCs and has strong, flammable fumes. Epoxy resin will not bond to uncured poly,and poly resin will not bond to uncured epoxy.There is a difference between cured resin and just hardened resin.If your bro has done "tons" of glassons then he should have known there would not be a chemical bond only mechanical.Sounds like the resin on the board was hard,not cured when the fins got glassed on with epoxy… 6oz and 4oz cloth are the standards and here are some general rules for choosing your thickness. The weight of boards dropped and the performance levels went through the roof. Epoxy resin (the only resin that can be used on EPS foam) is a little stronger than polyester. They also have a more buoyant feel to them, as if they sit a little more on top of the wave. A Stiffer Core = Bigger Wrinkling Load Capacity = Equal Overall Sandwich Flex, Less Stiff Core = Smaller Wrinkling Load Capacity = Equal Overall Sandwich Flex. We’ve been building Epoly boards for years and with more and more positive feedback we feel it’s the optimum direction for resilient yet affordable surfboard construction. Making it the obvious choice for sustainable surfboard manufacturers and surfers alike. Fiberglass surfboards are less expensive due to the flexibility of the material, which makes it easier to give them a desired shape. For beginners to intermediate surfers, the advantages of epoxy boards are very interesting. Everyone has a view, or thinks they do, but when asked to explain it most make little or no sense. Often combined with bio resin and fibreglass alternatives such as flax cloth. A beauty from Meran Surfboards. Epoxy is high-strength glue that is far superior to the majority of paste glues available on the market. Unlike the wooden stringer that is always used in a poly board, epoxy… These have long been the standard for most brands, and is the most widely and affordable options still out there. The denser a board, the heavier it is, that's the trade off. The combination of these factors has made them a great option for small wave boards. Polyester resin generally costs slightly less than epoxy resin. cloth and polyester resin. Although it sets up much faster, it has the reputation for stinking badly enough to burn your nose hairs out. In 2012, Ralph Naranjo conducted a … Epoxy resin is the only resin that can be used on EPS foam. Epoxy resin is stiffer than Polyester, but as the glass fibre (E Glass or S Glass) is much more important to flex this actually has a negligible effect on the overall flex of the sandwich. Epoxy boards are a combination of expanded polystyrene foam (also referred to as EPS), fiberglass cloth, and epoxy resin, typically resulting in a lighter and more durable surfboard! There are a few differences however. Prior to that for the last 40 or so years, traditional fiberglass surfboards were what the masses surfed with. This is often the determining factor for most people. To cover wood, a laminate using epoxy resin and 10 oz, cloth will yield a much better job than 10 oz. 6oz is stronger and stiffer but heavier than 4oz. The Hi-Lite Laminating Resin Formula is used by Australia's leading Surfboard Glassers. Polyester resin generally costs slightly less than epoxy resin. Epoxy surfboards are composed of polystyrene foams and are coated with an epoxy resin. Strength (wrinkling load capacity) - Equal. As I have alluded to above, PU (polyurethane), PS  and EPS (Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene) come in different densities from the 'blank' manufacturers. Note: before we get started this is just a small note to admit that while I talk about different properties of these materials, I am being generic. One of the most notable differences between EPS and PU is the weight. The Genius Bob Simmons pouring down the face on one of the first displacement hull surfboards. So to put it another way, the stiffer the core, the stronger the overall sandwich would be. This day in age, however, EPS foam blanks have become a regular option for most of the surfboard industry. EPS is a popular option for many brands these days and for a number of good reasons. It's really no wonder then with the practicalities involved in surfing that the sandwich was an overnight success and has remained the majority shareholder in surfboard construction to this day. Lighter boards are easier to whip around quickly, this extra sensitivity makes them great for progressive surfing on waves that let you perform quick snappy manoeuvres. There exists different types of polyester, but in the surf industry, the most adequate ones are silma resin and UV H61. Superior Strength of the Kinetix Surfboard Epoxy System is constructed to extend the longevity of use and match the need for longer lasting boards as the standard of surfing increases. So let me know if you found this interesting or informative and I will again don the 'nerd's hat' and get stuck into the inherent differences between the cores out there today. Moreover, epoxy is not so toxic. Adhesive Properties: Polyester resins do not have adhesive properties. In the late 50’s Hobie Alter began playing around with different PU formulas to make a blank that would be easier to shape and produce than using Balsa wood. They are both great options, but for us regular surfers who can’t afford an endless quiver, we need to think about these differences and make an informed decision before ordering our next board. 6oz Fibre = 1.5 times stronger = 1.5 times stiffer = 1.2 times heavier than 4oz Fibre. Now, even the top level elite surfers will sometimes prefer to use EPS/Epoxy boards over PU/PE for certain waves or conditions. Surfboard and Composites Fiberglassing Equipment and Supplies. Greater density would generally mean more strength and rigidity and less flex (in the core). According to the experience of a lot of surfers, such equipment is very good at digging and allows them to cut some inches from the length. Epoxy Resin. Epoxy is a much better choice if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint. Lib Tech's super secret recycled foam or the interesting looking Varial stringerless blanks to mention a couple. The word alone sounds a little sexy, and when you hear it you should pay attention because it’s a better alternative to polyester resin. Our premium Polyester Surfboard Resin and Epoxy Resin is used by leading surfboard glassers all over the world. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) blanks are used for all Epoxy surfboards, these blanks are a strong lightweight blank that offer great pop and response in the water, great for your performance … As they had to wait and test through the issues of new PU foam formulas from new blank manufacturers. Polyester vs Epoxy When you start surfing, you put your knees on the board when making your take off, and the epoxy boards are not going to suffer as a polyester … cloth however the epoxy laminate requires much less labor to fair. Epoxy Surfboards: Pros vs. Cons. Polyester resin does not cure well as a thin film, so it doesn’t work well as an adhesive. Finding the board in the blank. As I have said, before I embarked on this journey to discover the facts about the different layers to construction and how they effect the overall surfboard, I had a bias as to which sort of construction I prefer. Unlike PU, EPS be recycled. We also stock surfboard gloss resin. To synthesize, epoxy surfboards are harder and more robust and offers greater buoyancy, while polyester surfboards are lighter and more comfortable to surf. per square inch, while a polyester resin can hold less than 500 lbs. So, again we see the trade off, to get a stronger overall sandwich we have to sacrifice overall flex and weight. © Copyright 2010 - 2021 - Boardcave USA ~ The Surfers Store. EPS constructions are more expensive for the manufacturers which results in them costing a little more than your standard PU. Well now, this has also been a long time coming, the reason being that there are so many different people/shapers/pros who have a different point of view, a different bias and perspective on this subject. The inevitable trade off comes with flexibility, a carbon board will be around 3 times as stiff as the same board made with S Glass. This is not a simple subject and I am trying to simplify it. Due to the foams weight and density PU / PE boards sit a little lower in the water, helping to keep your rail under, giving you a nice “knifey” feel when slicing through the wave's face. EPS foam is much lighter than PU which makes for a great option for the surfers that love to take it to the air. Surf knowledge is power. The shrinkage is low. The larger the pour, the more polyester resin shrinks when cured. from £ 25.90 Resin Research 2000CE Ultra Epoxy Resin Packs; from £ 26.90 Resin Research BIO-SCIENCE CE & XB Epoxy Resin Packs; from £ 25.90 Resin Research Kwik Kick Ultra Epoxy Resin Packs; from £ 3.90 Resin Research Additive F £ 19.99 Epoxy 101 - Epoxy Glassing with Greg Louer; from £ 0.40 Epoxy Mixing Pot -1100 ml Graduated. In 2005 Gordon Clark's Foam factory was wiped out by a horrific fire and ceased operations. This is because the stiffness of the overall sandwich has little to do with the actual core. This became a turning point in surfboard manufacturing as the foam was much easier to shape and more constant to work with. Epoxy has far greater adhesive properties than Polyester which makes delamination less likely and also is rumoured to have a slightly greater impact resistance, making it less likely to crack if 'bumped'. $13.50 $ 13. Surfboard Resins Polyester Surfboard Resin is formulated to cure water white (clear) and to cure in thin laminates. It is UV stable with excellent clarity. My quest is to take this unruly bull by the horns and discuss the facts of the matter and present you with a concise and honest way to judge which construction type is for you. Epoxy has far greater adhesive properties than Polyester which makes delamination less likely and also is rumoured to have a slightly greater impact resistance, making it less likely to crack if 'bumped'. Epoxy does not emit nearly as many volatile organic compounds as polyurethane does. Although EPS had been used by some since around the 70’s or earlier, it took this major blank disaster to get the majority of board builders to start using the alternative. There is a lot more that goes into surfboard constructions, so check out our related articles on Surfboard Bottom Contours and Surfboard Shapes, Tails, Rails and Noses. Epoxy. Epoxy resins have adhesive properties. Shelf Life. The larger the pour, the more polyester resin shrinks when cured. You can decide... Nic takes a little trip to possibly the most eco orientated surf factory in the world. How to fiberglass with Epoxy and Polyester resins, UV Sun Cure Solarcure resin, Epoxy woven fiberglass cloth, squeegees, chip brushes, mixing buckets, Q-cell, Cab-o-sil thixotropic powder, glassing tools. Using a scale the epoxy was weight to a 2 parts resin to 1 part hardener ratio. ... SunPowered Dura Resin Mondo Dual Formula Epoxy & Polyester Safe Surfboard Ding Repair Kit. Also epoxy is lighter than polyester. Carbon is becoming more popular in the construction of surfboards, and improves the strength (wrinkling load capacity) by around 100%, with minimal weight compromise of around 10% plus to the sandwich. (spoiler alert) I have my prejudices and I found myself unmoved by the facts. 7. Epoxy has a longer cure time, with five to seven days, versus six to eight hours for polyester. Make sure to use proper ventilation when applying both epoxies and resins. To understand where the choice came from we have to go back, wayyyyy back, to a man called Bob Simmons who died in 1954 in a surfing accident in San Deigo at age 35. - Comparing Epoxy to Polyester as to the effect on the end result of the sandwich. Polyester off-gases VOCs and has strong, flammable fumes. Our surfboard resin is Silmar S249A which is the surfboard industry standard for laminating and hot coating. Our goal is to help inform you so you can make the right decision for your next custom surfboard and make sure you are as stoked as possible. 50. View our selection of EPS Foam surfboards to find one that suits you. Learn to laminate, hotcoat, and glosscoat. This ends up meaning a much lighter surfboard – a big plus for most surfers. It’s a little stronger than and also more flexible, allowing it to snap back into shape better than Polyester which is a little more brittle and can lead to cracking. Its full name is polyepoxide as it is formed by the reaction of polyamine and epoxide. If you are using polyester resin, follow there instructions. Eventually, Gordon would take over the blank manufacturing so Hobie could focus on building surfboards, and as a result, Hobie Surfboards had become the first mass manufacturers of surfboards paving the path for the surf industry as we see it today. The performance attributes, though slightly different than PU, are just as notable. An epoxy’s relative strength can hold up to 2,000 lbs. If you would like me to go 'mega-geek' and in depth in another article, then leave me a comment below. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. This means that a polyester resin board will have a little more stiffness and drive while an epoxy resin board will have slightly more flex and pop. Let's take a moment to step back and suck in all that we have learnt thus far. Two examples of boards we´ve tried with this material are the: Ono Fish from Single Quiver, the Sweetspot from DHD Surfboards and the Clayton The Modern Twin Fin. What it does effect, however is weight. Polyester Resin vs Epoxy Resin: Polyester resin is produced by free-radical polymerization. Epoxy is a much more modern type of surfboard that has recently gained popularity over the years since 2005. Right, now that you understand the generics of what makes up a surfboard and how the different parts contribute to the end result as a whole, we can move on and compare some different materials used in construction as promised by the title of this article. Sitting lower in the water also has its benefits to barrel riding, providing more hold in hollow waves. The skin (Poly or Epoxy) of the of the sandwich is much stiffer than the core and will negate any extra of less flex in the core. 4.5 out of 5 stars 49. Do-it-yourself Surfboard Repair products by Ding All. For the same size board, a balsa core would be roughly six times the weight, to give you an idea. E Glass and S Glass are the industry standards, both have marginally different properties, S Glass is stiffer and stronger and E Glass has more flex: S Glass = Strength (Wrinkling Load Capacity) 10% increase but 10% stiffer (again the trade off). Polyester is far less pleasant to work with than epoxy. High performance polyester resin recently made available to the UK. Both good quality. So Poly vs Epoxy, what an opinion most people have about this! The finished product. Also, when it comes to shock absorbing abilities, it is the fiberglass surfboard that wins hands down. The epoxy/cloth laminate is comparable to using polyester resin with 3/4 oz. Okay, so let's simplify this, doubling core stiffness would lead to double the overall 'wrinkling load capacity', but would give you the same overall flex of the sandwich. When ordering your next board, you are going to have to make a decision between going with standard PU (polyurethane blank) or EPS (Expanded Polystyrene, otherwise known as styrofoam). and while I find his analogy a little sexist, I kind of see his point.