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[GadgetUK]

I have been making PuPe boards ever since Murray (Seabase) was selling stuff out of his garage.
But I have no idea how to source EPS/Balsa/HD foam/Epoxy/Bagging stuff.
I was hoping you guys might want to share your experiences with the various suppliers.
I have tracked down a few links for materials, hoping you might add to the list and comment on your experiences. I will try to update this first post as it goes on.

EPS CORE MATERIAL
For a high density skinned CompSand you need Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) in the range of 11 and 16kg/m³ (0.75 - 1Lb/cu ft), with a small even bead.
Lower is better, but but below 11kg/m³ it may struggle to withstand vacuum pressure.

LINKS
Eccleston & Hart Ltd http://www.eccleston.com/expanded-polystyrene-block.htm
Jablite http://www.vencel.co.uk/products/insulation/jablite/technical-download.php
Springvale 01457 863211
Sheffield Insulation http://www.sheffins.co.uk/products.asp

HD FOAM SKINS
Corecell 3mm A500 has been recommended, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with Corecell M-Foam?
HD PU foam http://www.homeblown.co.uk/HD/index_files/HB-HD-A4-6pp-outside_mailout.pdf
Rohacell ??
Divinycell ??
Airex??
LINKS
Corecel - Marineware, Southampton
Diab, Gloucester 01452 501860
Matrix Mouldings, Bristol http://www.matrixmouldings.co.uk/
HD PU foam - Homeblown http://www.homeblown.co.uk/technology/modellingfoam.php
Airex - http://www.impag.co.uk/

BALSA
??

LINKS
??
EPOXY RESIN
??
LINKS
Homeblown http://www.homeblown.co.uk/acatalog/Surfboard_resin.html
Seabase http://www.seabase.eu/products/cat/Resins%20and%20Coatings/Epoxy%20Resin/
GLASS AND EXOTICS

LINKS
Homeblown http://www.homeblown.co.uk/acatalog/Glass_fibre.html
Seabase http://www.seabase.eu/products/cat/Cloth-:AND:-CSM-:AND:-Tissue/
VAC-BAGGING
??
LINKS
Fiberglass Supply (US Based, but cheap apparently) http://www.fiberglasssupply.com

East Coast Fiberglass Supplies http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/store/-c-315.html?osCsid=690f5fcdb908d4f2c0fd2808e98aa18a]
Vac bagging supplies, resins, cloth and a lot of other interesting stuff. The pigments for polyester resin are supposed to be very good, dont know about the pigments for epoxy

Polyfibre http://www.polyfibre.co.uk/product.asp?Category=8
Vac bagging supplies, resins, cloth and plenty of other stuff.

[GadgetUK]

Help me fill the gaps.

[Jarrod]

Great idea for a thread, Gadget!   I don't have anything to add for the UK, but I think we should do this sort of thing for each local area (usa, NZ, AUS, etc..), with the idea of eventually making it a resource page on the main site.  Good call!

[spewing]

Here's some links to help fill some of the gaps

East Coast Fiberglass Supplies

http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/store/-c-315.html?osCsid=690f5fcdb908d4f2c0fd2808e98aa18a

Vac baging supplies and a lot of other interesting stuff The pigments for polyester resin are supposed to be very good, dont know about the pigments for epoxy

Polyfriber

http://www.polyfibre.co.uk/product.asp?Category=8

Vac baging supplies and plenty of other stuff. I know people who do general laminating and say there prices are very competitive

Hope this helps. The resource looks like it has some realy useful UK contacts

Kev

[GadgetUK]

Here's some links to help fill some of the gaps

Added, thanks.

[pierrek]

If you expand your search to Europe you may find other valuable resources for EPS, epoxies, vacuum bags, balsa etc... that can be sent to UK.

In France :

EPS : www.atuacores.com , cut to your specifications, choose your density (ask if needed). Epoxy resin, fiberglass and other supplies as well

Epoxies, fiberglass, vacuum bags : Sicomin (www.sicomin.com),

Balsa (for aeromodellers) : www.weymuller.fr

[gp]

Hi,

Just to help a little;

Epoxy Resin:

The Resin Research stuff from Seacbase is very good. I have had a few problems with the Homeblown epoxy (although Homeblown is an good supplier of other surfboard making materials).

Balsa Wood:

http://www.cheapestbalsa.co.uk/

I have found these guys to be very good. The stock changes so you have to be a bit lucky, although a quick e-mail to them asking for exactly what you want can be very fruitful.

[woody_waverider]

Cheers for the link much cheaper than other site i was going to use and they have a BOGOF offer  , just ordered some balsa from them today. Now need to wait for payday to buy more resin/glass

[gp]

Hi all,

I have just ordered some of these vents from the USA to here in the UK:

http://www.foamez.com/pdfs/GoreVentInstall.pdf

I couldn't find them here in the UK so had to buy them from overseas. As they are quite expensive to import, if anyone needs one or two then I will be willing to sell them on.

Cheers,

[tomway]

Thought I'd pick up a few metres of glass while I'm in the UK for a few weeks as in Indon I have to order from oz, but seabase are advertising their 4oz eglass at 7 quid a metre?!! Anyone know a cheaper source? At this price it would be much cheaper to order from oz (about 4 aus dollars a metre) and get it sent to the UK.

[gp]

Tomway,

Hopefully these will help. Both should be cheaper:

http://homeblown.co.uk/acatalog/Glass_fibre.html

http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/ecf/tabid/60/c-429-plain-weave-glassfibre-cloth.aspx

[tomway]

cheers gp, east coast fibreglass seem very well prcied. Just a shame that neither them nor homeblown do cloth in bigger widths - most of my boards are kneeboards, and it's a struggle to lap 23 1/2" with 685mm wide glass !

[mark venn]

£7 a metre!! that has nearly doubled in a year.  Sure i was paying £4 for the 800mm.
How long you over for? Thinking of a dash to the North coast on Sunday.  Haven't been in for a while, so sunday looks good

[tomway]

in france at the mo Mark, but back next tuesday and keen to do a dash if it looks good.

Keep an eye on the charts!!