What's the consensus: How long do you let a newly-glassed board cure before you'll ride it?
(sponsored guys who don't pay for their boards excluded)
(sponsored guys who don't pay for their boards excluded)
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How long to let it cure?
- Thread starter Waldo
- Start date
I'm kind of in the *nstink camp on this one but this is what Rich Harbour says via his website.
Many things have been said about how long a board needs to cure before it is ridden. For the first 48 hours resin is very soft. Severe dents will occur wherever pressure is applied to the surface. Most boards are laminated one day, hot coated the next day and sanded the following day. Severe denting is generally not a problem with glossed and polished boards. The gloss and polish process usually takes an additional several days, making about 5 to 6 days from the day it was laminated. The lamination process is the application that most needs to resist denting. If you wait an additional week after polishing the board will be reasonably cured. This time estimate is based on a typical 70-degree ambient temperature. If it is the dead of winter, and days and nights are very chilly, the waiting period can double or triple. Conversely, heat can greatly accelerate the curing process. Your board, exposed to about 115 degrees heat for several hours, will be adequately cured. Reliable sources tell me that this rapid cure actually increases the strength. Surfboards that are already cured cannot be made stronger by this process. Be very careful not to let the board get over 125 degrees. Polyester resin actually begins to soften at about 150 degrees.
Many things have been said about how long a board needs to cure before it is ridden. For the first 48 hours resin is very soft. Severe dents will occur wherever pressure is applied to the surface. Most boards are laminated one day, hot coated the next day and sanded the following day. Severe denting is generally not a problem with glossed and polished boards. The gloss and polish process usually takes an additional several days, making about 5 to 6 days from the day it was laminated. The lamination process is the application that most needs to resist denting. If you wait an additional week after polishing the board will be reasonably cured. This time estimate is based on a typical 70-degree ambient temperature. If it is the dead of winter, and days and nights are very chilly, the waiting period can double or triple. Conversely, heat can greatly accelerate the curing process. Your board, exposed to about 115 degrees heat for several hours, will be adequately cured. Reliable sources tell me that this rapid cure actually increases the strength. Surfboards that are already cured cannot be made stronger by this process. Be very careful not to let the board get over 125 degrees. Polyester resin actually begins to soften at about 150 degrees.
Sweet! Thanks R3W! I picked up the new board last Friday, and I think TFAD & friends finished the polishing on Thursday. So by Harbour's logic, it's been at least a full week at 65-70 degree temps. I feel pretty good about taking it out tomorrow morning <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
I personally do not subscribe to the heat cure method. I let all my boards sit(mostly because personal boards are side projects and can take forever to go through the shop) and I get very few dents. I have boards that are 5 years old that look new(keep it in a board bag and don't let anyone borrow it).
Waldo, I think you will be okay considering your blank choice and glassing. The weather has turned around and the surf is getting fun. Hot Rods are meant to be ridden.
Waldo, I think you will be okay considering your blank choice and glassing. The weather has turned around and the surf is getting fun. Hot Rods are meant to be ridden.
Funny, I can't get a feel for a board until I dent up the deck a bit. Got heavily arched feet, so when the deck dents a bit, it gives me that oh-so-sought-after- gluefoot-effect! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />
Not a bad idea! Knew a shaper that got so fat his arms barely reached the water when paddling! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> So he scooped out the deck on his next board so his gut fit right in there. When he was paddling, he looked like he was skinny! But as soon as he caught a wave and stood up, it was like <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />
Hey JJR...anyone ever tell you that you look skinny for a fat dude? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />
Hey! I might be fat, but your ugly...and I can diet! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />
LOL! Just playing off the comment you made on another thread!
How about a couple of cheeseburgers to go?
How about a couple of cheeseburgers to go?
As long as they got extra cheese...and extra burger! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />