Making wooden twintips from scratch?

.Jacob

.Jacob

Active member
before anyone bitches at me to use the searchbar, I did, but going through hundreds of pages of "need new skis" posts, I just decided to make a new thread.

so, my goal for this year, is to successfully make a pair of wooden twip tip skis (in wood shop class) that i can actually use once or twice just for fun. does anyone have any firsthand experience with this, or any tips they would like to share.
 
I know I saw a thread a while back with a kid who made a pair of skis but sorry I don't remember which one, if you want real good help emailing and custom skis company such as Folsom or Igneous and just ask about it, sorry not much help but I know it's damn hard if you don't have a legit press and all the necessary stuff like edging and all the core stuff, but good luck sir
 
my highschool has one of the best workshops ( highschool workshops ) in canada, we have a press.
 
I really doubt you have a ski press.. You can however vacumm press skis. Also you are awar skis are not just made out of wood right? like you will need fiber glass, metal edges...etc. probably not something your gonna want to try and do while at school. It will take too long.
 
it's not specifically a ski press, but we have a press, I'm not trying for skis that will last, I just want some ski shaped wood, with edges. Our metal working facility is also top notch.
 
Router out a small groove for an edge, superglue them in. Paint the bottoms black. Dont even try to ski them.
 
Jusr checked out ON3P skis, so sick, I want these
Jeronimo_2_large.jpg
 
I'd go for wall art. Ski cores are usually v lams that are milled thin then wrapped in fiberglass, I think. You could go for super oldschool style skis that are 100% thick hardwood. Not sure if those would be v lam (probably) or a combo or h and v lams. Plus I'd worry about splitting on solid wood skis with no composite reinforcement. Either t the glue lines or the wood itself.
 
I'd go for wall art. Ski cores are usually v lams that are milled thin then wrapped in fiberglass, I think. You could go for super oldschool style skis that are 100% thick hardwood. Not sure if those would be v lam (probably) or a combo or h and v lams. Plus I'd worry about splitting on solid wood skis with no composite reinforcement. Either t the glue lines or the wood itself.
 
I think everyone here is missing the point... he doesn't want to make conventional skis... he wants to make WOODEN skis, like how skis were made before there existed plastics composites and ski presses as we know them now.

I think it's an awesome idea.

I would research how those old skis were made; I'm sure they were somehow pressure treated or something to make the wood stronger, but I honestly have no idea. There's a chance you could find a book in an old library, but if not just seek out a pair of wooden skis.

I have a pair. They are just a solid piece of hardwood. The tips are bent up, not sure how they did that, but they aren't just shaped that way from the wood; the wood was for sure flat at some point in time. I would imagine that will be the biggest hurdle.

The edges were a thin strip of sheet metal, about 2mm thick, that went all the way down the edges of the wood. There was a little channel routed for them, and they are held in with screws that sit flat at the level of the edge.

There is also a shallow channel that runs down the length of the ski.

Not sure how to help - if I had the wooden skis with me in Utah I would take pics, but they are currently on display at the parent's house.
 
I've ventured into building skis and trust me, it's not easy! If you want help building a conventional ski, pm me. If you're actually trying to build a wooden ski, good luck..
 
my main goal was to go for a solid wood ski, just to see if i could get the shape and/or something to possible ride once down a bunny hill just to say that ive ridden a pair of homemade skis. But depending on my resources, I might go all the way and make a conventional ski. This project should happen next semester, so I have some time to draw up some plans and dimensions.

Thanks again to everyone
 
If you want to make all wood skis, cut your ski shape out of the desired wood. Steam treat it and bend it like in this video. Then I'd suggest trying to waterproof it. Like everyone here has said. Your skis will probably suck, but at least this will give you the bend you are looking for.
 
Wow have some faith it's not like hes just going to throw two 2x4's on the mountain and try to go skiing on them.
 
i was also looking into making a pair of those chinese skis featured at the end of WME Dynasty a few years ago for a senior project. those skis had a horse skin base which was cool because it was like always having climbing skins. the construction would have been really easy, which is why i ended up not doing the project because it wouldnt have filled the required hours for a senior project. just basic woodworking and leather tooling.
 
that'd be awesome, bending wood is a tricky and time consuming proces with steam and all, look on youtube for some tutorials, also the varnish finishes are crucial in making the end product strong and durable, don't underestimate it ...

make sure your wood to begin with has a good grain that runs all the way through ....
 
just to let you guys know, by "all wooden ski" I do also mean having a base that is suitable for the snow. not just wooden bases. If i get all the supplies I need, i will definitly attempt this, and i will make sure to take some videos and pictures of the process.
 
1. cut down huge tree

2. set tree on CNC machine table

3. set cnc cordinates into ski shapes

4. press start

5. wait like 8-9 hours

6. ????

7. Profit
 
Getting into making a conventional ski is do-able, but definitely not going to work out very well without a LOT of time and money invested, because for that, you need good materials, edges, base material, cores and fiberglass, topsheet material, and a press with a mold to put it in.

I think building a pair of wood skis, like old school wood skis with a more updated shape (Even if they were like skinny 220, but with boxy tips and tails and a twin tip) would be hilarious, and awesome... then if you did it nice, you would have something nice to hang on your wall rather than a shitty pair of skis to keep around in your garage.

I don't mean to discourage you, I'm just saying it's a big commitment, if you want to do it go for it!

And to everyone who's saying "you're not going anywhere on wooden skis, that's not going to work".... Seriously, what do you think skis used to be made of? It's not like people didn't ski before plastics existed - it's the oldest sport out

0308%20003.jpg
 
You could definatly pull that off just solid wood sick planks put a metal edge in them and maybe even put down some sort of base
 
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