gotama sidewall repair tech questions

[gforce]

04/05 gotama, 4 inch x 1/2 inch deep sidewall split under foot. I have read most posts about sidewall repair but need a few other opinions.

1) The cut is the thickness of a credit card and just above the base- do I heat epoxy in there to flow better and clamp (which presses most of the epoxy out) or just fill the void and live with a slightly warped base?
2) I planned on using JB weld but have read marine tex epoxy might be stronger...anybody have any experience with both? It also sounds like this is thicker epoxy...any problems getting it to flow into a thin void?
3)I have also heard some guys creating a damn. I assume this means using a dremmel tool and cutting a V into the sidewall so more epoxy can be used. Does this create a better bond or am I just reducing the structural integrity of the sidewall?
I want to do this right so thanks for any ideas.

[ArmadaBC]

Marine tex works great and seems to last longer as it is more waterproof. It is thicker but if you hit with a heat gun it flows better. Sorry I can't be more help.

[real9999]

Got pics?

You may have better luck using a lower viscosity epoxy than trying to thin one out with heat. Clamp it too and don't use JB Weld...

[gforce]

No digi available but as I described. What epoxy do you prefer real9999? I just talked with a boat supplier and he said the marine tex is a putty so would probably require dremmeling the crack to a greater width for proper adhesion.

[descender]

I fixed one of these on my own and had another done and a shop. The shop did a much better job. I don't know what he did, but he used "structural expoxy" which is supposed to be flexible. It is holding up. He also put the skis under a heat lamp for a day or so before starting the repair cause they were soaked in.

[real9999]

Most shops will use one of these epoxies or urethanes.

http://www.svst.com/page4.html

I'm not sure which version Epoweld SVST actually distributes, but I've had good results on tip delams using Epoweld 8200A/B.

http://www.theepoxysource.com/structural_adhesive.asp

[Arty50]

3)I have also heard some guys creating a damn. I assume this means using a dremmel tool and cutting a V into the sidewall so more epoxy can be used. Does this create a better bond or am I just reducing the structural integrity of the sidewall?

The damn actually gives the repair some integrity. I had the same crack repaired twice, the first time a shop just slathered epoxy into the crack and all over the place. It looked like a hack. The second time I had a damn built by another tech. He basically created two walls on either side of the crack and then filled in the crack and space between the walls with epoxy. So when it was done there was an actually wall of epoxy on the outside of the crack, instead of just having epoxy sit inside the crack. The first repair only lasted a month or two. The second one lasted all the way until I sent them in to Volkl and it was still kickin', so about 3-4 months. Definitey get a damn done.

[marshalolson]

----------------- is it like this?
----=======----


--------I------- try doing a repair like this to get as much glue inside the delam and clamp
------I===I-----

so there is a "mask" of epoxy/JB above the crack, and maybe open the crack a little to get a bit more material in there.

JB or industrial 2 part is the call for something like this as far as bomberness...

[gforce]

Thanks for the ideas. There is not enough room below the crack to "add a wall". It is too close to the base. I can cut above the crack. So if I am picturing this damn method correctly - I am basically cutting another crack or channel into the sidewall that runs paralllel with the damaged crack - so I am filling in with epoxy 2 cracks/channels.
I assume with a dremel tool?

[marshalolson]

oh... is it a HORIZONTAL crack in the sidewall? i guess i though it was a delam...

cut a parallel line above and angle the ends: /========\, and pry it open a bit w. a screwdriver, fill it w/ JB & clamp. then sand flat. at least that is what i have done. is the base pulling off the core?

[gforce]

No, base is fine. Basically a credit card thick horizontal crack 4 inches long.

[marshalolson]

i rec. doing those angle cuts in the sidewall to prevent it from splitting more...

dremel tool is your friend...

[Vinman]

what about injecting it with a syringe. I used this kind of techniqu on a delam last season and it seems to have held.

Open up the crack with the dremel or a small drill hole. Two might work better so you don't get an air bubble in the spot to be filled. Fill a syringe with whatever epoxy you are going to use and inject it in. Flex the ski a few times to work the epoxy around and inject some more epoxy. Clamp