Creating my Own Rocker Ski

Mids

Mids

Member
Okay, So I chose to make my own ski in my woods class, but I was told that everything had to be in inches, feet, ect...

So I need some help with making sure my measurement are up to par.

5.9" tip 4.25" underfoot 5.5 inch tail.

all of 74 inch length.

Thanks, +k for help.
 
i mean those converted to normal skiing dimensions would be about 150-108-140 and 188cm long so is that what you're asking? i don't see what you need help converting, if you're creating your own unique ski theres nothing you need to comply with?
 
Thanks for the help, I'm making the press myself and I'm about to drop some money on this so I was double checking making sure that I do all this work for nothing. I was also asking if the measurements seem reasonable, or if you would ski on a ski like this.

Also because it's woods I was thinking of making the core out of African Mohagany.
 
no what he means is that the tip and tail are really wide in comparison to underfoot which isn't really all that wide. might wanna slim down the tip and tail a lot or increase it underfoot alot if you're looking for a super fat ski. if you're looking for a good wide ski like 135-120-133 would be a good place to start. i believe the JJ's are similar sidecut to that
 
what if I just bump the underfoot up to like 120? I want to make a unique look to the ski, but make it worth riding.
 
It would be pointless to make the width at 120 if the tip will be 150 and the tail 140, all you will have is a fat ski that has no use because the tail will drag too much. 130 underfoot is the least I would go with that wide of a tip and tail.
 
if you want 108mm underfoot you should probably look at something like 135-140mm tip and 115-125mm tail.

with your current dimensions you're going to have a ski that is far too "hooky" and will be difficult to make it track straight. at least change the tail width. the wider tip will give you good turn iniation and float but the wide tail will do you no good.
 
Meh, buying quality Mahogany isn't really that expensive. I'd be more concerned about the weight of a mahogany core than the cost. Let alone the flex...

If you know where to go, or have connections at legit lumberyards you can get a lot of rough wood for your dollars. (I have a strong background in woodworking in case you're curious.)
 
Yeah, the teacher who im getting the wood from has a good connection at a lumberyard, and i went in with a kid who is making a guitar body. (quite frankly the kids a douche who already used 2x more than what he was supposed to and now we have to order more, also leaving a bunch of waste) Plus the african Mohagany is a strong wood, and the flex is not to bad, also ive been skiing on stiff skis all my life.
 
Okay so I really had no clue on how to make a press so i got a design from skibuilders (A website that shows how to build a ski) and the shop has enough wood to make the press and we also have a firehose. (don't ask me why, I have no clue) The teacher said if i could construct a press he would do the rest.

By edges do you mean the ski , or press?

Edges on the ski for sure.

On the press, no fucking clue.

And what about fiberglass?
 
I would definitely suggest taking a strong read through this section of the website a few times to get a clear idea of the process:

http://skibuilders.com/howto/

From there, take a step back, consider everything it takes to complete that process, and move forward from there.
 
Been using that website the whole time, actually the most visited site on my computer at the moment.
 
look at your favourite fat skis dimensions and use that to build off. If you haven't skied a fat ski I am sure you could figure out which ones are popular around the forums. But, if you have never skied a fat ski, don't make one. You are going to use it on your big trip out west and it will break and you will be devastated.

Some advice:

-2.54 cm (25.4mm) an inch. Use that to convert ski sizes,

-there are no 'edges' on a ski press

-fiberglass is used in the construction of a ski

-keep reading skibuilders.com and absorb the information you read. you seem to be missing a few points

-good luck and keep at it
 
Thanks, I plan to start construction of the press soon. Considering I'm taking the class for the full year the ski wont be done until summer. I think it will be a lot of fun and a good challenge.

I already have a lot of respect for people who make skis, because it is a lot harder than it looks.
 
You are aware that skis have glass on them, right? Unless you plan on making a solid wood pair of skis like they used to do way back in the day, you'll need glass and resin.

And why mahogany? Does it have some properties that make it a good core? I thought it was just heavy and expensive. Which is why it's in furniture, not skis?
 
You mean the thing that supports the core?

my thought process is that Fiberglass is cheaper than Kevlar and Carbon fiber, so i might have to go with that. Also considering I'm still in High school, it's possible my parents could pick up this piece for me.

As for my decision for mohagany, the wood is very strong (typical for furniture) stiff, but not too stiff, and overall a good quality piece of lumber.
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/african-mahogany/

that's all the facts about the wood.
 
Fiberglass is the high tensile strength stuff that's helping it not snap in two, needless to say it's vital to the skis unless you want your several mm thick core to snap in half when it bends. Resin (epoxy, likely) forms the matrix. You pretty much need both. This is a hell of an ambitious project for high school shop class. That being said, if you have a chance to do this on partly the school's dime, 100% go for it.

Kevlar just dulls all your tools unless you've got the right sheers and whatever. Unidirectional carbon tapes are cheap, but you should concentrate on getting glass and epoxy really.
 
School's picking up the tab for the epoxy, fire hose for the press, 50% of the wood, and supplies all the tools needed.

And I guess that makes up my mind for the composites. I'll be going with fiberglass.
 
Oh man, please do some research on "turn radius" before you totally fuck up this sick opportunity. A 150/108/140 profile would be a very terrible ski.
 
Not my work.

1219162104CORE.jpg
 
Yeah I got a wood form, with firehoses to press it down. Kinda lika how ski builders had it out to be.
 
Keep in mind with a wood press, you more than likely will not be able to press at high pressure because of the amount of deflection. Make sure you have plenty of vertical support and test it to see how much deflection would come with say 40 psi
 
Update from OP:

After several months of working my ass of in shop class and a large amount of dollars, I have officially broke the shit out of my skis.

I had the skis shaped and sanded down to my exact dimensions, had all my plastic, fabric, ect ect shaped out as well. I threw my first ski in a couple of days ago, and the ski cracked and eventually broke. Needless to say I'm a little upset.

I only have about 30 some days of wood shop left, I plan on trying the other ski in the press, but I'll probably make a table or a longboard with the time I have left. (probably what I should of done in the first place)

Anyways, it was a good experience, I now have a lot more respect for the ski builders in the skiing industry. You guys have a frustrating job.
 
Yeah, but constructing a new press with the amount of time I have left would be complicated.

I'm starting work on a wooden chair today.
 
Actually you wouldn't have to construct anything. You would just need to take your bottom mold out of your old press and then purchase both a vacuum pump and bag. And from there would just have to do another layup of skis.
 
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