Custom/Hybrid Hydro turf. does it have to be that hard??

Fenix169motox · Mar 31, 2009

So i took a shot at putting my turf on tonight.. yeah definitly isnt happenin. specially with the foot holds, it just wont stretch that far, even with heat applied, all it does it crease.. any sweet suggestions? i have the under pad cut.. i have wamiltons foot holds and i'm about to give up and piece them in..

i really dont want to

if you're in northern ohio i will pay you to turf my ski if you have some sweet skillz lol or at least if you wanna help me! hahah

steveyz250fpilot · Mar 31, 2009

The turf doesn't really need to stretch. You just need to cut it correctly for the contours. I don't use any heat on my turf jobs. I don't use one piece on footholds. The main piece gets cut around the top portion of the foothold, and then I use one piece inside the foothold.

CP Watercraft · Mar 31, 2009

Fenix169motox said:
So i took a shot at putting my turf on tonight.. yeah definitly isnt happenin. specially with the foot holds, it just wont stretch that far, even with heat applied, all it does it crease.. any sweet suggestions? i have the under pad cut.. i have wamiltons foot holds and i'm about to give up and piece them in.. i really dont want to if you're in northern ohio i will pay you to turf my ski if you have some sweet skillz lol or at least if you wanna help me! hahah

where u located

MADMAT · Mar 31, 2009

Its really not so much stretching as it is slowly and carefrully forming....with a little heat.

I would be glad to help you. Come on up anytime. Or pay me a little and I'll come to you.

IMO 2 people definitely make it easier.

steveyz250fpilot · Mar 31, 2009

the red lines indicate where my turf gets pieced together.

Mouthfulloflake · Mar 31, 2009

turfing is an ART, and its a beetch to me.

I did my footholds ( rickters) like ys250 showed there. seperate peices.

the heat never did squat for me, I got it hot enough to melt the turf ( and burn my hands) and it still wouldnt stretch, or curve like I wanted.

stredman · Apr 1, 2009

Agreed. Go slow, and get an extra set of hands to help. The one job I've done turned out pretty well for the first. One heat gun melt in my turf caused me to hang that thing up and just go slow and pull.

Fenix169motox · Apr 1, 2009

all right, thanks guys, prolly wont get back at it till maybe this weeekend, I'm in Willard, ohio, and i have a buddy helpin me but i've never even worked with anything like this stuff. I'm trying to turf exaccccctly how yz250fpilot did it..

restosud · Apr 1, 2009

don't pull on it much as it will come unglued otherwise.you don't want it under tension.gentle pressure and heat to set it where you want it is all.

vjhardcore · Apr 1, 2009

I haven't turfed yet - but I've never heard this aggravation before on the topic? Its usually about the quality of cuts and seam matching. I thought heat was the way to go too?

Ericfox · Apr 1, 2009

willard is about 1.5 hours from us... if you want help with the turf you can come over on Saturday... oldskoo and I will be working on his squarenose probably that day... I can show you how to do it if you want.... either way- you should come get together with us in a few weeks when we start riding... what lakes do you usually ride?

Moondance · Apr 1, 2009

Both skis that I have helped turf lately were done around the footholds in one piece. My ski was turfed that way prior to me returfing. I suggest you cut a template out of poster board first & work with it to get an idea of how to cut the turf. You do have to make sure you've cut the turf longer so that you have enough material to work with when contouring around the footholds. Heat the turf enough to make it shape around the footholds. And you will more than likley have to trim once inside the holds, but that's better than having gaps. You will also have to make sure you line up on the corners for your seam.

And two people does make the process much easier. The key it taking your time though & not getting impatient. It really isn't as hard as it seems to be, but more of a patience project.

SuperDrifter · Apr 1, 2009

I suggest you cut a template out of poster board first & work with it to get an idea of how to cut the turf. [/quote said:
x2, and get a bottle of uberglue for the details

Idok · Apr 1, 2009

heat will work jsut fine...use a hair dryer and it makes it slightly more pliable

a seamless turfjob looks incredible, but not recomended for the first time

Fenix169motox · Apr 1, 2009

Ericfox said:
willard is about 1.5 hours from us... if you want help with the turf you can come over on Saturday... oldskoo and I will be working on his squarenose probably that day... I can show you how to do it if you want.... either way- you should come get together with us in a few weeks when we start riding... what lakes do you usually ride?

I live on a small lake out here. its nothing much but its enough for me to ride..

I didnt know i was supposed to be gluing as i stretch and heat it.... i was going with the getting it in the right shape before i glue anything.. i did use cardboard when i cut the underpad. that i think will do fine.. just the foot holds and sides of the tray are whats killing me..

But yeah i might be up for saturday. i'll let ya know. where are you guys from?

Ericfox · Apr 1, 2009

I live around Akron, OH.... I'll PM you with my phone if you're gonna come over on Sat... just let me know.... one thing you wanna do is get a coat of dap weldwood in the red can (not gel type) on the whole area you want the turf to stick to... at the same time apply to the whole piece of turf... then let dry for like 20 min... till the glue is dry and barely tacky anymore... then do the same thing on both surfaces again.... use superglue to put on little pieces and touchup... especially helpful inside the holds...

stredman · Apr 1, 2009

It's almost time that someone puts up a pdf of the tray pattern, minus the holds. Having one for my square made it a heck of a lot easier.

By the way... always awesome to see guys helping each other out.

Fenix169motox · Apr 2, 2009

Ericfox said:
I live around Akron, OH.... I'll PM you with my phone if you're gonna come over on Sat... just let me know.... one thing you wanna do is get a coat of dap weldwood in the red can (not gel type) on the whole area you want the turf to stick to... at the same time apply to the whole piece of turf... then let dry for like 20 min... till the glue is dry and barely tacky anymore... then do the same thing on both surfaces again.... use superglue to put on little pieces and touchup... especially helpful inside the holds...

Ok so you want to mold the turf as you glue it on.. i do have a quart of weldwood red. sweet up. i dunno what my plans are for sat but if i'm workin on a ski i'll shoot you a pm.

onesojourner · Apr 2, 2009

check the tech faq. I wrote a pretty in-depth how-to.

akevin · Apr 2, 2009

https://www.wamiltons.com/pdfs/matkit_installation.pdf
u may want to try this in wamiltons installation guides
i did mine last nite and it went perfectly (rails and all)till i ran out of wamiltons glue and then triied the dap in a red can. the wamilton glue stuck and stayed stuck instantly then i ran out and tried dap and it just wouldnt stick permently and instantly,therefore it was impossible to make bends. although i did use the precut mat- wamiltons may have a template-theyr precut matte fit perfectly-

Custom/Hybrid Hydro turf. does it have to be that hard??

Fenix169motox

steveyz250fpilot

Banned

CP Watercraft

Pro Rider

MADMAT

steveyz250fpilot

Banned

Mouthfulloflake

ISJWTA member #2

stredman

stredman

Fenix169motox

restosud

vjhardcore

Ride It Like Ya Stole IT!

Ericfox

Do it twice?That's DooDoo

Moondance

Just plain me....

SuperDrifter

Prototyper

Idok

F1pro

Fenix169motox

Ericfox

Do it twice?That's DooDoo

stredman

stredman

Fenix169motox

onesojourner

I use a thumb throttle.

akevin