Hydro turf hurry!!

[mademan9]

Ok guys I have searched for hydro turf install several times, but cant really get the answer i'm looking for. I just got my sheet of hydro turf in and want to install it today. Supplies: 1 sheet of black diamond HT, weldwood contact cement, rubber mallet, and a razor knife. I'm just doing the sides and the nose of my sq superjet. Several people say you need a heat gun.... How strong of heatgun? I know it sounds dumb,but better safe than sorry. I see everyones pics of this type of install and they look great. Should I wrap the turf under the sides? Or just cut it flush? I hear people wrapping the sides with one peice...HOw in the h*ll? Will the turf stretch that much? I know I probably sound like a broken record , I really need help. From the looks of the sheet I cant even go along one side.Please help!!!!!

 

[the only couch rider]

don't rush a turf job.... it will look like crap if not done properly

 

[Big Kahuna]

just place the turf on the hood of your car/truck in the sun. ( a regular hair dryer works also ) Do not rap under the rails. Install the turf with it hanging down about 1/4" or so. Cut at a 45 degree angle, then block sand to make it smooth. I started using Black RTV sealant where the turf meets the side of the ski to keep water from blowing the turf off. Put a strip of painters masking tape about 1/16"-1/8" inch above the turf. Apply a small bead of caulk, smalles hole you can get it to squirt out of. Then spray your finger with WD40 and wipe and force the excess into the gaps. Run you finger over again with WD40 on it to slick it up. You can do this with one application as you get the hang of it. I typically do the sides in 2 - 3 pcs. That way if one starts to come up, it does not take the rest with it.
Use superglue at the seams. Also, sand the backside of the turf and the hull to get proper adheasion, use plenty of glue. When you think it is ready, walk away, drink a beer. That is the biggest mistake people make, they try to stick it too soon. Then use the rubber mallet to pound the turf to the hull. This really works.

 

[nokfir]

goodlluck, turfing sucks lol. to make life easier, put contact cement on both ski and turf,use a heat gun or hairdryer until both side are dry (ur finger should not stick to iether) then apply in one shot (u only get one) lol. take a rubber hammer and hit it a few time to make sure no air bubbles.

 

[Idok]

the words "hurry" and "hydroturf" do not belong in the same sentence

 

[Big Kahuna]

goodlluck, turfing sucks lol. to make life easier, put contact cement on both ski and turf,use a heat gun or hairdryer until both side are dry (ur finger should not stick to iether) then apply in one shot (u only get one) lol. take a rubber hammer and hit it a few time to make sure no air bubbles.

That is the only way you can use contact cement. It will not bond with just applied to one side.

 

[SuperJETT]

Just to be sure, you're talking about the bondline going around the ski, right?

I did mine with 1 piece around the nose, then 2 pieces on each side.

When people mention doing the 'sides with one piece', that normally means the sides of the tray area and getting all the way inside the footholds with one piece like freestylegeek's ski in Ski Buildups.

 

[mademan9]

OOOOooh i see now. So the heatgun or hairdryer is just to dry the glue before applying

 

[Ericfox]

no... glue drys itself... and it should not be very tacky when you apply it... almost completely dry to the touch... put 2 applications on hull and 2 on turf and let them dry in between too... then put on where you want it... it will stick and be permanent though so be careful... you can pull it up a little, but not much without having to put down more dap... heatgun is for making the turf more stretchy when you're installing... but if you heat it up too much it will rip if you pull it too hard... be careful and good luck... turfing isnt that hard, and its annoying when you're doing it... but after you're done you feel good when you look at a good job

 

[mademan9]

Ok cool. I have the sheet on the hood of truck, letting it heat up. Then I will slowly begin. Thanks for all the help guys. I feel much better about this install.:Banane09:

 

[sflsurfrider]

just place the turf on the hood of your car/truck in the sun. ( a regular hair dryer works also ) Do not rap under the rails. Install the turf with it hanging down about 1/4" or so. Cut at a 45 degree angle, then block sand to make it smooth. I started using Black RTV sealant where the turf meets the side of the ski to keep water from blowing the turf off. Put a strip of painters masking tape about 1/16"-1/8" inch above the turf. Apply a small bead of caulk, smalles hole you can get it to squirt out of. Then spray your finger with WD40 and wipe and force the excess into the gaps. Run you finger over again with WD40 on it to slick it up. You can do this with one application as you get the hang of it. I typically do the sides in 2 - 3 pcs. That way if one starts to come up, it does not take the rest with it.
Use superglue at the seams. Also, sand the backside of the turf and the hull to get proper adheasion, use plenty of glue. When you think it is ready, walk away, drink a beer. That is the biggest mistake people make, they try to stick it too soon. Then use the rubber mallet to pound the turf to the hull. This really works.

not a single mention of sanding and cleaning the surfaces. its no wonder you need rtv sealant and super glue!

:lmao:

 

[sflsurfrider]

Just to be sure, you're talking about the bondline going around the ski, right?

I did mine with 1 piece around the nose, then 2 pieces on each side.

When people mention doing the 'sides with one piece', that normally means the sides of the tray area and getting all the way inside the footholds with one piece like freestylegeek's ski in Ski Buildups.

or the gunwales....

 

[sflsurfrider]

Ok cool. I have the sheet on the hood of truck, letting it heat up. Then I will slowly begin. Thanks for all the help guys. I feel much better about this install.:Banane09:

having the 'sheet' on the truck is useless. you still need to cut your pieces, then let them warm up.

sand the back of the turf and the area to be turfed with coarse (like 30 grit, or so) sandpaper. then wipe both surfaces with an acetone rag prior to applying the contact cement.

dont turf over paint.

 

[Big Kahuna]

just place the turf on the hood of your car/truck in the sun. ( a regular hair dryer works also ) Do not rap under the rails. Install the turf with it hanging down about 1/4" or so. Cut at a 45 degree angle, then block sand to make it smooth. I started using Black RTV sealant where the turf meets the side of the ski to keep water from blowing the turf off. Put a strip of painters masking tape about 1/16"-1/8" inch above the turf. Apply a small bead of caulk, smalles hole you can get it to squirt out of. Then spray your finger with WD40 and wipe and force the excess into the gaps. Run you finger over again with WD40 on it to slick it up. You can do this with one application as you get the hang of it. I typically do the sides in 2 - 3 pcs. That way if one starts to come up, it does not take the rest with it.
Use superglue at the seams. Also, sand the backside of the turf and the hull to get proper adheasion, use plenty of glue. When you think it is ready, walk away, drink a beer. That is the biggest mistake people make, they try to stick it too soon. Then use the rubber mallet to pound the turf to the hull. This really works.

not a single mention of sanding and cleaning the surfaces. its no wonder you need rtv sealant and super glue!

:lmao:

Walmart has a special on reading glasses.

 

[Big Kahuna]

having the 'sheet' on the truck is useless. you still need to cut your pieces, then let them warm up.

sand the back of the turf and the area to be turfed with coarse (like 30 grit, or so) sandpaper. then wipe both surfaces with an acetone rag prior to applying the contact cement.

dont turf over paint.

or you can make your cuts first. More than one way to skin a cat.

Hood of the truck is for if you dont have a heat gun. It works. You just cant screw off once you remove the turf from the Hood.

 

[mademan9]

Last question should i put the turf all the way up to the bottom part of the wall, or should i put it just like the plastics were? To the First little hump?

 

[LBE]

Wrap the edge. good contrast of turf on my old paint job.

 

[ncbrock]

just place the turf on the hood of your car/truck in the sun. ( a regular hair dryer works also ) Do not rap under the rails. Install the turf with it hanging down about 1/4" or so. Cut at a 45 degree angle, then block sand to make it smooth. I started using Black RTV sealant where the turf meets the side of the ski to keep water from blowing the turf off. Put a strip of painters masking tape about 1/16"-1/8" inch above the turf. Apply a small bead of caulk, smalles hole you can get it to squirt out of. Then spray your finger with WD40 and wipe and force the excess into the gaps. Run you finger over again with WD40 on it to slick it up. You can do this with one application as you get the hang of it. I typically do the sides in 2 - 3 pcs. That way if one starts to come up, it does not take the rest with it.
Use superglue at the seams. Also, sand the backside of the turf and the hull to get proper adheasion, use plenty of glue. When you think it is ready, walk away, drink a beer. That is the biggest mistake people make, they try to stick it too soon. Then use the rubber mallet to pound the turf to the hull. This really works.

i agree, i also used black sealent for the edges, i sanded with 220grit everywhere then used acetone to get the surface tacky then applied cement to the surface and the turf, let it sit for 10 minutes, heat both again and apply with rubber mallet.
Still peices of my siding came off, so i redid it with black sealent on the edges and it came out fine and is staying so far.

 

[sflsurfrider]

Walmart has a special on reading glasses.

any specials on acetone?

 

[ncbrock]

today i redid one side of my turf because it started to fall off. i sanded it really really well, almost down to bare white, 2 layers of contact cement on sheet and ski and she still didnt stick that good. i got it on though and i put some black weatherstrip adhesive along the top maybe that will keep whatever gets in there out and my turf on the rails..