heat guns and hydroturf

[gj_fx1]

I've read a few posts here saying to use a heat gun to form hydroturf.

Well...good thing I'm bright enough to do a test.

With gun on high the hydroturf almost instantly turned to charcoal. :banghead:
On low it discolored it got brittle. It just tore in two when trying to strech it.. :frown:

So..? Any tips? I'll give it another test holding the gun further away, or maybe try a low power hair dryer.

How much stretch do you get? -- I was thinking you could contour one piece down the side and all the way into the foothold cavity but after my little test I don't think thats happening.

 

[djkorn1]

It only stretches so far... don't get it so hot that it hurts your hands...

 

[Rickster]

Use a hair dryer, and get rid of the heat gun.

Your Wife/Mum/Sister/Girlfriend might kill you, but it has plenty of heat to soften the turf for working.

 

[Frosty]

I always use a heat gun, but you have to get the feel for it. Just enough heat to make it plyable, but no more. I can usually use one solid piece for each side and mould it into the footholds so as to have no seams in the foothold. Here is one I did for my friends SXR...

http://teamxtremejetskiing.com/ericturf6.JPG

http://teamxtremejetskiing.com/ericturf.JPG

 

[ndh5]

George,
I used a heat gun on my turf. But like TXJFrosty said, just give it enough heat a little at a time to make it pliable. The heat will help it mold to the contour you need.


What holds did you end up going with on the FX1?

Nathan

 

[gj_fx1]

yea, clearly the last place you want a seam is at the top edge of the foothold. Maybe it would be ok to go around the edge and in 2 inches or so, then piece in the toe. (?)

Of course the FX1 will be twice the fun 'cause it also has to go over the top and around the back of the rails.

 

[All Stock]

You can also just lay them on the roof of your car if it is sunny outside. Or get a black trash bag, toss in the turf and set it in the sun. Poor man's way. Still makes it plenty pliable.

 

[jetskier79]

Poor man's way.

If you can't afford a hair drier.....I'm thinking maybe you should give up the jetskis.

 

[All Stock]

I think you are right. Want to buy a SJ or Octane?

 

[IceRocket1286]

this is one of those threads to shake your head at and not say a word.... and makes me laugh

 

[gj_fx1]

Nathan: went with the 24-7 universals. You coming to lanier to try 'em out?

on the heat: easy does it..got it. Anybody try warm water?

Anybody care to comment on my template? The blue tape is where the seams will be. -- A very rough draft obvioulsy..I just want to know if this is a good way to seam it.

Also does it matter in terms of traction which way you orient diamond pattern turf? I'm thinking it will look better lengthwise, but you know function over form..

 

[cookerq62]

S peice that sits flush with the bottom of the trey will bend and fill in the 24-7 universals. you don't need any seams in the foot hold just the side of the tray and the bottom cut long to fill in the rest. I'll try and dig some pic's of my ski with the 24-7 turf and Adet16v's fx1.

 

[cookerq62]

these are pics of his fx1 turfed. he used an old hydroturf kit for his templates. It wraps around the top and then the back is a separate peice. It looks bad a$$ after he trimmed it up and cleaned off all the glue.

Edit: they are too big gonna stick them in the gallery
Edit: OK figured out the gallery the the 2 ones with the blue ski are aarons ski and the black groved turf is my 24-7 universals with the 24-7 kit.

http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0


http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=1



http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=2

 

[Speedfreak]

I am helping a buddy turf his FX1 which we just installed the universal bindings in as well. We should be finished tomorrow (we are doing it at work)..SHhh don't tell... anyhow I use a heat gun till you can't hold the turf and it never discolors or gets hard. Just wear leather gloves when it gets that hot. I try not to streach the turf too far because I think it wears through faster if you have it under stress.

Also I cut the turf along the front of the foot hold up to the top of your foot then lay that part in along the bottom edge and turn the diamond pattern sideways when I fill it in so that it holds better to the top of your foot.

And about traction if you look at siping on tires the more edges you have the more traction you have so if you turn it sideways it should grip better. *shrug* I don't know

 

[gj_fx1]

Aaron's ski sure looks clean. My thinking was to, as much as possable, wrap around corners and have edges/seams on flat areas. I'm afraid it will be more likely to peel up at the corner. I think I'll give my one-priece idea another iteration, but with the seam not going into the foothold.

Speedfreak are you saying you peice in a seperate small piece for inside/top of foothold? I'd assume the main sheet wraps around the whole lip though?

 

[cookerq62]

when you do your turf, after you have everything stuck real good stuff rags into the foothold and really wedge them in up against the top then heat that area with a blow dryer. This will keeep the tops of the foothold in contact with the turf for as long as you leave the rags in and will take some of the "memory " out of the turf.

 

[Speedfreak]

If you look up Wams turf instructions I do mine like that I think Superjet has a section on his website that has info on turfing. I have never had a problem with turf pulling off at the corners. My turf has been on there for 3 years and not 1 tiny problem.

Here you can see where I cut the side turf and layed that into the foot hold then a small pointed piece lays in that corner and down to the bottom then you trimit off with the outside of the foothold. I also just seamed the rear out side when the inside wraped around the rear so that it matched the top. Pretty clean job when all is done.

I also added an extra 8mm of padding to make a larger kicker at the rear for monkey jumps

 

[sflsurfrider]

thats a clean turf job! nice!

you shouldve put the diamonds going the other direction though. its like having grooved turf going the wrong direction. slippery.

 

[SUPERJET-113]

SFL, your back!!! :Banane01: :Banane01: :Banane01: :cheer: :cheer:

 

[Speedfreak]

I didn't think it would matter on the floor since your feet would be inthe holds most of the time. But on the top of the feet I already cut the pieces then thought about the diamond runing the wrong way so it was too later I wasn't going to cut another.