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Preserving and Enhancing the Enjoyment of Wave Riding Ice-Nine's focus is on the tool and, better still, its core - the foam. To move it forward, we've looked hard over our shoulder. We've taken best of what our history has shown us - there is no ride like a polyurethane ride - and stoked it with a breath of fresh air to create CANE, ABLE and MOWSES.
BREAKING NEWS: CODE ORANGE TECH ALERT FROM ICE-9 HOW TO AVOID CRYSTALLIZATION IN PAINTING OC Foam Plant and Paint Master Tom Cervantes Solve Bizarre Crystallization Dilemma THE FIRST IN AN ONGOING SERIES OF REVOLUTIONARY TECH REPORTS.
Orange County, CA - In the process of developing its foam, Ice-Nine utilized many innovative techniques and chemicals that are novel to surfing, making sure to run countless tests and then running them again - because they were fun and also to make sure they weren't kidding themselves.
Ice-Nine also took a hard look at resins, catalysts, laminating, painting, and so on along the way, consulting a variety of experts in the industry. Now they're opening up the vast vaults of valuable information to the surfing community, starting with this report about the dreaded condition known as crystallization in board painting.
It was while developing their MDI polyurethane formula and coming up with glassing recommendations that Ice-Nine turned to master painter Tom Cervantes of Stewart Surfboards for his insight. His extensive knowledge of blank transformation comes from nearly 30 years of painting surfboards for a satisfied and far-ranging clientele.
"The better the understanding a craftsman has about the materials he uses," Cervantes says, "the better his work will be." Cervantes has not only spent time researching and experimenting with the chemistry and technology of paint and resin, but has also investigated nearly every detail associated with application of color, graphics and board design.
One of the things that was of great importance to Ice-Nine was understanding the issue of crystallization as it relates to painting and laminating the blank. Cervantes points out that there are four main causes for crystallization, and they can all be avoided if the painter and glasser are cautious and follow a few simple suggestions.
Now, they're all available on the Ice-Nine website, and you don't have to register, pay a fee, or worry about being friended if you pay us a visit.
"We have been fortunate to work with so many knowledgeable people as part of our hands-on approach in the research and development of our product," says Ice-Nine President Jon Stillman. "Because the data we gathered is of value to others in the surf world, we want to pass it on."
To view the full technical report on crystallization, visit www.ice-ninefoamworks.com - and make a point of coming back for more reports on breaking tech news, tips and design developments.
TR Painting Crystallization 6.2.8
click to view this technical report
FOAM ICON WALKER TEAMS UP WITH ICE-9 ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Blank pioneer Harold Walker may have turned out the lights at Walker Foam, but he wasn't ready to pack it in. Moments later, he joined up with foam innovator Ice-9 to help them develop supercharged versions of the TDI foams that he formulated at his famous shop starting nearly 50 years ago. Walker helped spearhead the foam blank industry and now is aiding and abetting the foam vanguard as they create new, successful products for the high-performance surfboard market. Walker Foam - Clark Foam's historical predecessor - enjoyed a very loyal clientele throughout the decades. This kind of loyalty is a thing that is difficult to inspire and important to pass on, in the view of Ice-9 founder and self-declared Lonely Tyrant Jon Stillman. And Walker's deep knowledge and experience is not something to be thrown overboard just because that's what's going on these days. "I have great respect for Walker's contributions to surfing," Stillman says, "especially when it comes to the manufacture of commercially viable foam formulations and the fact that he helped usher in the Foam Age. The way I see it, by marrying Harold's incredible experience and knowledge with our updated processing and engineering, we can create the ultimate shaper's foam. Wouldn't it be cool to see the traditional formulas that served surfing for decades intensified by 21st century technology?" Walker concurs. "I'm pleased to announce that Ice-Nine has contracted with me to supply them and consult on production of the Walker Foam blank formulas," he says. "These are the Original formula, the New formula, the Colored Foam formula, and the High Density Foam formula. I very much admire Ice-Nine's aggressive pursuit of advanced technology in Eco-friendly foam, molding and gluing techniques, and foam mixing procedures." Those who have followed Ice-9 since its inception may note that the partnership is a departure from the company's original "MDI-only" path. But it plans to implement chemical industry "best practices" and engineering controls to assure that the TDI poses no threat to shapers, surfers, or its employees. And, adds Stillman, "by including one of the historic foam formulations in our line-up, we are creating a bridge between surfing's past and future."
The Shape of Shaping to Come We want to make sure that the craft of custom shaping gets passed to the next generation of design innovators. Problem is that shapers and their understudies were usually discouraged about having to pay full price for as practice board. To encourage our master shapers to give their time and expertise in the shaping bay to aspiring young artisans, we've eliminated this barrier with the ICE-NINE APPRENTICE PROGRAM. Ice-Nine donates rejected and experimental blanks to registered master-apprentice teams. More details about Ice-Nine Apprentice Partnership Program are available here.
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