MyPaipoBoards Forums

Interesting! How are you using XLPE as a mold for a paipo "Wood Press?" I have developed a technology for making blanks for channel bottom BBs/Paipos. XLPE should work well for building the blanks and prototypes. Just need to come up with a good adhesive that is strong enough to endure the...

It is closed cell, "Cross-Linked Polyethylene" foam 6-pcf. I got it from an online foam supplier in Michigan.
The other more expensive foam I want to play with is 6-pcf "Mini-cell EVA" (more UV tolerant).

At 6 pcf, the XLPE foam is lighter than balsa (8-14 pcf). The 6 pcf XLPE is fairly stiff with a little flex. It is more expensive than EPS for sure. The 6 pcf XLPE sample seemed to sand fairly well -- a bit better than the 6 pcf microcell EVA. I plan to try shaping by hand with coarse sandpaper, woo...

Decided to try shaping a different material for BB/Paipo builds -- high density, cross-linked polyethylene foam. No glassing required. Should be lighter than wood and not too much heavier than stringerless foam with a heavy glassing schedule. Eliminating glassing should speed up the build/prototypin...

A basic "Lord Board" with parallel rails for speed...
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If you are only going to use one wood veneer, it would give better compressive strength on the deck. With wood veneers on both deck and bottom, you might not need stringers.
If you need a cork deck skin for impact absorption and traction, you could possibly add it over the deck's wood veneer.