G-MAT 4 (AKA "The Flying Banana")
Thanks to my boy Webbo for the name.
Over complicated grip if I'm honest. Much easier to get a good stipple with the two wider stripes. Nonetheless, I'm pretty happy. Might get a test drive this weekend as the swell might not be quite as pump-a-licious as first expected I suspect.
Anyway, ride reports once ridden.
Cheers
G
28 comments:
That looks awesome!
Ah the joy of stippling. Looks like a bee G ;-)
Great Stuff! Can't wait to hear how the the slippery bugger peels.
Ooooh I thay. Juht gorgeous!
G-man aka, "Eric Twinge, living @ 29 Acacia Avenue". When he eats a banana he blows up his mat & turns into "Banana man" with the
Strength of twenty men & the brains of twenty muscles.....!
I am glad someone made a mat other than black great job
Cheers fellas.
Funnily enough, Phil, Eric was on my shortlist!
:-D
G
Would have been funny, a tedious but funny link.
Would a blue streak dye?
I agree with MrMike, its great to see a mat in another colour. COngratulations !!!
Next one will be what colour ??
Great contrast bettween the black and yellow, it looks ace
Not brave enought to try 1 inch grip with stipple
I wouldn't try dying a ready made mat, Matt. I think the valve involves glue (PG could tell ya for sure) and the heat would mess that up. It's also dye the bung.
I just had an amazing session. Head plus perfect lefts on a south Devon reef with only a handful out due to the thick sea fog. Given the size and shape, I'm still to try this mat but The Tank went like a bomb! :-)
Brett, I'm not even thinking about the next mat at the mo but one of or a combo of red/blue/black as that's what I've got dye wise.
Jerry, you want Sharpie paint pen for writing on mats mate.
G
looks stunning G, I dip my hat to you and your creations !
Thanks a lot Henry.
G
Ridden today in chest to head waves. Reasonable amount of power but not loads and some backing off.
So then, plus points is this mat rides really, really well! It holds much better than I'd expected and is very quick. Keeps its speed through turns and the pliabilty throughout is great. Also, I'm so glad I made this mat as a free breather.
One downside... the feckin grip fell off!!!! It seems the acid dying process makes the fabric struggle to hold on to the grip. B*ll*cks!
I've taken it all off and have tried sealing the area with evo stick which has been left to go off. I've then applied new grip on that.
Fingers crossed this works. Next mat I'll apply grip and then dye. However, that's gonna limit colours for grip/lettering to black as acid dye will dye anything!!!
:-(
G
So killer G!.... Making everyone itch to DIY.. Far exceeding everyones expectations im sure.. your status: Legend! Id be as nervous talking to you on the tele as Dale or Greenough! Damn Boi!
Ha! You nutter! :-D I agree on DIY though. Be great to see more.
Grip looks OK at the mo. Fingers crossed.
G
That looks absolutely wicked G, great job mate.
Thanks Gaz.
Just done a test with applying S-FAHT to undyed white fabric and guess what... IT PEELED OFF!!!
I'm not to happy because this material is, in theory, the same as the black sample I was sent. However, S-FAHT stuck to that like sh*t on a blanket!
The prepping using a layer of contact cement has promise but is a hassle. As a result, I'm trying a new sealant....
Stay tuned...
G
Brilliant work G, if I didnt have 3 kids and a missus holding me back Id be down in the shed building great mats too !!
Discussed with the manufacturer who was surprised that the waterproofing is on my role.
Mat building... Never simple...
G
Right then. After tests the manufacturer tells me my fabric isn't waterproofed. That raises a ton of questions. I remember when I mad G-Mat 2 I had to wait a week to ride it which makes me wonder whether the finer weave needs longer cure times. It also makes me question the dye again.
I'm gonna do some tests of my own and will stick them on here.
G
Could it be the Soudal? The Tremflex seems to sink in more on my blue streak?
S-FAHT sticks like glue to blue streaks. Same with the 200d I used on G-Mat 3. It might be that you need to work it in more on application if you've had problems. Ive not had any. I would never go back to Tremflex and Crumb Rubber. Vulkem is an option too but horrible stuff. Also, having applied this to a sample of straight white which I sent to PG it would appear that a longer cure time works for that too.
That leaves two options:
1) the dye affects adhesive.
2) it needs longer to cure.
If I'm honest I was so excited to try this mat that I took it out right on the cusp in terms of cure times. Perhaps too early for this material. I'm gonna test 4 samples now:
1) dyed material with grip added after dying
2) dyed and machine washed material with grip added after washing
3) grip added to white material then dyed.
4) a control of white material.
I'm gonna leave each un untouched for a week after adding grip.
G
How about a 70's tie-dyed version next ??
Perhaps not next but at some point.
:+)
G
Id go for
2) dyed and machine washed material with grip added after washing
If the dyes acid and then fixed with alkali that might be it?
The acid is the vinegar added to the dye. That's what fixes it. I'll try each. I'm also gonna add some white Trem to the one which is dyed after gripping as that's what I use for lettering.
I'm hoping it doesn't take the dye but am guessing it will.
G
www.ukmatsurfers.org
www.flickr.com/graymanatb
Post a Comment