New Vent Plugs
March 18th, 2009, by Brad
The boards we build here at Grain need to be vented to let expanding air out of them. Up until now we’ve been working with a specially shaped aluminum or plastic screw with an o-ring under the head. It needs to be removed sometime soon after the board comes out of the water. And it definitely needs to be be put in before the board gets wet!
Once in a great while, people forget to put them in, or don’t tighten them enough and water gets into the boards. Usually it happens when boards are lent to your brother-in-law, or when we’re doing a demo and people are grabbing up boards and running in with them. Generally, they are totally reliable (human error aside!)
Lately, we’ve been experimenting with vents that don’t have to be removed. These are high-tech plugs, with a Gore-tex membrane inside them that lets air pass through, but not water. We checked with a couple of leading surfboard companies that have been using these vents in their EPS/epoxy boards and they’ve had no complaints in thousands of boards. But there have been some home-builders who have reported problems.
Gore-Tex Vent, assembled and with super-tech vent plug removed
Our experience is that this hardware is tricky to install, and it’s a good chance that the failures have come from poor installation, and not failure of the hardware. We’ve been putting them in some demo boards, and in our own boards for some time now with no issues.
While we’re not stocking them yet, HomeGrown Kit builders will soon be able to purchase these vents from our web store. We are offering them as an option on our custom boards, for those people that feel they may be forgetful and don’t want to take a chance. Or if their brother-in-law surfs.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hey Guys,
What about a vent plug similar to a salomon s-core which could simply be epoxied on due to the large circumference of the vent.Wouldn’t look the best-but would work.
Regards,
Shayne
March 27th, 2009 at 7:39 am
For those of us that have boards already w/ the old standard plugs is there a new screw we can put in that has this auto vent feature?
March 28th, 2009 at 9:59 am
The plugs aren’t interchangeable unfortunately.
March 29th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I have used these exact Goretex vents in a number of boards over the last 3 years and have had no problems. They let air in and out. On a hot day my 10ft full carbon over styrene longboard gets hot and I have small air bubbles come out as it expands. So yes it does the job well.Just make sure that the cap on the top is flush to the surface so as it is not knocked off. It protects the fabric breather. Some early installions just epoxied the vent straight into the deck and the cap gets knocked off. And people pick at it to see what is under it.
April 1st, 2009 at 8:45 am
Good advice – I think any reported problems probably come from simple stuff like that, or from faulty installation. Thanks!
April 4th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Out of curiosity does the goretex installation process differ greatly from the standard process? It looks to me like it has to be flush mounted and extra care needs to be taken to exclude epoxy during the gloss coat. Am I far off base with that or is it a bit more involved?
April 12th, 2009 at 8:30 am
It’s a little more involved than that… and it’s hard to know that you’ve done it right until you realize you haven’t!
May 12th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
My son and i are building a hollow wood board First attempt,and Would a like to purchase a couple of vents. any ideas. margaret river western australia
May 13th, 2009 at 11:07 am
We have vent hardware in the online store… as part of a kit that contains a leash cup and aluminum vent screw.
June 7th, 2009 at 7:31 am
When would we be able to purchase one of these new vent plugs (with Gore-tex membrane) from you? Or do you recommend going to the manufacturer at this point?
September 16th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I need couples of vent plugs do you have some for sale. We are located in panama republic of panama
October 6th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I need couples of vent plugs do you have some for sale. I am in BC, Canada
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:45 am
I need couples of vent plugs do you have some for sale ?, I am in La Coruña ,Spain
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:45 am
I need couples of vent plugs do you have some for sale ?, I am in La Coruña ,Spain
Thanks
October 7th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Hey guys,
We are looking to get some sample of these fancy gore-tex plugs , Would it be possible to have your suppliers name or buy from you ? That would be much appreciate.
Is there a US or better yet a Canadian company that could supply these plugs? We are a canadian company.
Thanks ,
Alex