lexan board; stringer idea

**AJ_** · 11-11-2009 07:38 PM

ok so i'm building a board out of lexan ( the polycarbonate stuff ) and i'm thinking about a stringer. would routing half way into the board at the bottom along the middle (say 2.5 inches wide ) work as a stringer? All suggestions welcome.

**shottyman0** · 11-12-2009 01:00 AM

A stringer consists of putting some sort of reinforcement to help the flex and stiffness of a board. I say to skip the routing and mount some mahogany or some beautiful hardwood as the stringer. Make sure to rough up the Lexan before gluing to allow better adhesion. Try to curve the edges to give it some concave if you want. I'm not sure on how Lexan would do as board material, but its worth a shot!

**slavia631** · 11-12-2009 01:15 AM

Adding an inset stringer would just serve to weaken a Lexan board. Polycarb is strongest when in as continuous a matrix as possible.

**AJ_** · 11-12-2009 01:55 AM

ok thanks for the advice. um is mahogany expensive?

**KCcarvin** · 11-12-2009 06:56 PM

you probably wont be able to sting lexan unless you mount it through screws, polycarb isn't porous at all... my personal suggestion is to add a lay-up of fiberglass to get the strength you want, that's what I did to my lexan slalom board to make the flex stiffer and more responsive.

**danmorgan** · 11-13-2009 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by KCcarvin

you probably wont be able to sting lexan unless you mount it through screws, polycarb isn't porous at all... my personal suggestion is to add a lay-up of fiberglass to get the strength you want, that's what I did to my lexan slalom board to make the flex stiffer and more responsive.

Id be really interested to see that! i made one with a 3/4" aluminum channel stringer, just bolted it through 5 or 6 times. no flex at all but incredibly heavy. as for the structural integrity, pc is so freaking strong already that a few bolt holes wont make a difference.

**KCcarvin** · 11-13-2009 01:51 PM

ya the fiberglass turned out better than expected. I'd be interested to feel that aluminum stringer, I've never really worked with metal on a longboard before.

**AJ_** · 11-13-2009 04:58 PM

ok when you say laminate you like put the lexan with the fibreglass ontop with the mahogany on top of the fibreglass in vac bag? or do i need some sort of heat?

**KCcarvin** · 11-13-2009 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by AJ_

ok when you say laminate you like put the lexan with the fibreglass ontop with the mahogany on top of the fibreglass in vac bag? or do i need some sort of heat?

I wouldn't do that.. how thick is the lexan and what are the board measurements?
You're better off adding 3 layers of 16oz woven roving, one on top, two on the bottom.
I wouldn't usually suggest roving but It works really well with the matrix already generated by the polycarb. You really don't need a stringer but you'll have to bolt it on if you want one