It has come to our attention that last weeks feature relating to the JP Development centre, failed to include an important public disclaimer. The feature should have contained the critical wording: ‘Do not try this at home’. Unfortunately we spotted this omission a little too late and some level of damage has already been done. If you are considering building your own board, then you would do well to read ‘Freddy Bakers’ forum posting below before proceeding – and then think again!
Freddy Baker, you are a dangerous man (but you made us laugh)!
Posted By: Freddy Baker
Date: June 04 2008 07:22PM
Wow....I have just seen the Verner Gnigler 'exclusive tour' article.
It was absolutely awesome. Never realised how easy it was. So I nipped down to Currys, went round the back, rummaged through the skip and recovered 3 Styrofoam blocks that once padded 42" plasmas. Then back to my shed where I glued the buggers together. The glue didn't work so well and I ended up using duck tape (works for everything). Then I set up my laptop and carefully followed Verner's step by step 'How to build a JP prototype in 11 easy steps'.
I didn't have the proper CMC software so I just used Microsoft paint program and drew it freehand. Ok a bit squiggly and uneven but i was brimming with excitement so I made do.
Then set about cutting the Styrofoam. Didn't have the hot knife thingy Verner waffles on about so made do with a bread knife. Cut a shape (and 3 of my fingers!). The foam blank looked a bit squiffy but confident I could sort that out later.
Step 5: Apply deck sandwich reinforcement with High-density foam. Struggled a bit with the high density wotsit so used a sheet of medium density (Ok, I cut the legs off my dad's plastic garden table and used the top). Yes it was considerably heavier than Verner's fancy high density stuff but definitely stronger and the hole where the parasol used to go would make a perfect mast slot! Glued it with evo stick (glued 2 fingers together also)!
Step 8: (I jumped a few steps as quite honestly I think Verner over does thing board making malarkey). So straight to the laminating. I noted verner has a very expensive oven and vacuuming room. Not a problem... Placed my rather heavy board into a bin liner, pumped in 12 tins of evo stick and connected the Dyson.
Step 9: Out of the oven and after putting the flames out with a fire extinguisher I say oven, again I didn't have the luxury of an oven room so I just used 13 disposable bbq's from Aldi.
Step 11: Open a beer and admire my efforts. Ok, the only thing my home-made board has in common with the JP prototype is the carbon finish...unfortunately mine is mainly because carbon is what happens when you burn a block of styrofoam.
Quite frankly I am not sure that Verner's step by step was helpful enough!
