Flex Changing

**dragann** · 11-12-2009 08:38 PM

So recently i switched from using Lepage glue to using Titebond 3 and while i was using Lepage my boards had a nice amount of flex at 38" in lenth but when i built a board with Titebond 3 at 38" in lenth it was very stiff and had little to no flex and im using 4 plys of 8th inch BB on both boards any tips??

**Maxx** · 11-12-2009 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by dragann

So recently i switched from using Lepage glue to using Titebond 3 and while i was using Lepage my boards had a nice amount of flex at 38" in lenth but when i built a board with Titebond 3 at 38" in lenth it was very stiff and had little to no flex and im using 4 plys of 8th inch BB on both boards any tips??

if you are set on using titebond3, take into account other factors that change flex such as thickness, contours, etc... If that Lepage works well for you then I dont see why not just continue with it

**dragann** · 11-13-2009 12:23 PM

I was having problems with delamination thats why i switched

**Bryant@BCLongboards** · 11-13-2009 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by dragann

I was having problems with delamination thats why i switched

Well that explains why it was flexing so much more.

**dragann** · 11-13-2009 12:46 PM

Ok so do you think going down to 3 plys would be ok?

**Bryant@BCLongboards** · 11-13-2009 01:01 PM

If your board is too stiff, then yeah you could knock it down a ply. You might loose some rail strength/durability but the board should still hold up fine. Less concave, longer wb, less camber, ply thickness, different shapes, etc... will also effect flex.

**cojeep636** · 11-13-2009 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Bryant@BCLongboards

If your board is too stiff, then yeah you could knock it down a ply. You might loose some rail strength/durability but the board should still hold up fine. Less concave, longer wb, less camber, ply thickness, different shapes, etc... will also effect flex.

I agree with bryant on this one... my biggest changes seem to be the shape. If i go with an hourglass-shape i gain a TON of flex in comparison to the shape relative to the loaded pintail. I dropped a ply from 4 to 3, added 3 layers of 6oz glass and my board is crazy flexy, think loaded flex 3-5... depending on weight and where you stand. But the shape was almost the same as the vanguard, ie hourglass.

I would play with the idea of trying 3 plies, see how flexy it is... if its too flexy i would consider something like 4 layers, 2 x-band and 2 length-grain.

I usually build with 4 layers, 1 x-band, 3- length grain, though depending on the shape of course, this can create a VERY stiff board.

Just play around with the shapes and orientation of plies, see what you get. I have built 7 boards so far, and am still working on figuring out the flex issue.