How do you fiberglass without melting eps foam?

Question

fiberglass resin with polystyrene in it will melt eps foam and i dont want to buy epoxy resin so i was wundering if there was anything that you could put on the foam (drywall joint compound, anything?) to keep it from melting. I also need to entirely cover the foam in fiberglass and i can not remove the foam. and i have to use foam. (wood or anything else will not work). please help!

Answer 1

Try covering foam with 6 mil plastic, use silicone to glue joints together so there are no leaks and fiberglass over top.

Answer 2

Consider using a different kind of foam. But, EPS is available and some makers are moving to it (since the closing of Clark Foam).

Joint compound is a terrible idea, just forget that.

If you're going to be shaping your own surfboard, spend some time looking at what different makers are already using. Here's a company that manufactures foam blanks so that you can shape and glass your own board: http://www.homeblown.co.uk/technology/ch... They talk a bit about types of foam.

Here's an article about Stamps surfboards (nice, small shop, custom builder) using epoxy over EPS foam: http://www.boarding.com/articles/epsfoam...

Polyester resin is cheaper than epoxy, but epoxy will go over just about anything without melting it. Look into System Three epoxies. http://www.systemthree.com/index_2.asp