RARE Cypress Gardens Flying Saucer

Finished v0.1 up this morning and took it for a test run after church.   FUN!   snapped a few pics with a phone... pretty crappy quality:
http://picasaweb.google.com/tapenick/Disk_tryout

Didn't route the edges on this one but may do it on v0.2.   Don't have one of those contour bits but could just use a round off, flip it, repeat.

Just used 1/2 ply... so far so good.

Oh, and purple was the only color exterior paint I had... don't ask. My house isn't purple! :)

Gotta work my way up to the step ladder!

Ours is 3' diameter, Id guess 5/8" thick. Edges are not routed.

Found out what the step ladder was for... just as I suspected. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_jHMu5xRY4&feature=related

Boy, that brings back memories. I had the ply wood circle type with some fine sand thrown on the wet paint topside. I carried a milking stool through my arm and once up stick it on the disc, manuver it around to where I thought it should be, climb on and turn around and around until dizzy. My local ski club had a large one that some did the step ladder pyramid. Period correct with Hydrofoil skis. Wakeskate, we didn't need no stinkin wakeskate!

Geno wrote: That's it - I'm making a disc.

Geno, I've made several. I suggest starting with was is commonly referred to as "sign board". It is a weather proof plywood with a high pressure, high density fiberboard on both sides. It is designed to be painted and outside hence the name sign board!! I routed the edges with a half oval, coated both sides and saturated the edges with epoxy and then marine paint. Use anti-skid compound in the final paint coat on one side. Forget the bindings! A good lumber yard or a specialty hardwood lumber supply will have the sign board.

As a teen, I got quite good at the disk and even did it in our clubs shows. I did get out on the one I made for my daughter several years ago along with the 3 step step stool. I forgot how tricky it can be!!

Edit: Geno, This is the router bit I have used to get the convex edge on the discs I've made as well as the wake skates I made for my son.

87BFN owner wrote: backfoot Did you guys use an aluminum ladder or a wood ladder? How did you keep from losing it? My dad used to ski on the disc. Was a great time watching as a kid.

It was an old wooden ladder. We took a couple old ski vests and tied them around a couple of the backside wrungs of the ladder. Floated just fine when you fell.

TRBenj wrote:

Tim, your mom is gonna be pissed that you lost a kitchn chair

tullfooter wrote: SFF You get up as if on a wakeboard, but more like a wakeskate. The boat idles in gear while you position your feet on the rear third of the disk. The pressure of the water holds it on your feet. It is one of the easiest things to get up on. And you only have to be going about 10mph. Lefty

That's probably the best way, but you can pretty much get up any way you choose. As kids, we'd lie on our stomachs, similar to getting up on a kneeboard. My mom used to sit on top of the disc and stand up once planing. BKH

So is that done from a water start like skiing, or you have to do a beach start? I havent ever seen one before, but I also havent water skied much in my time. I still dont think I would try it, if it was the thing now. Doesnt have a "Cup Holder" on the chair.

I remember those things. I saw a guy use one he made on Logan Martin about '76 - I wouldn't touch it.

backfoot100 wrote: Those discs are a blast. I've never seen one that had bindings on it though. We just made our own disc. Cut a 4'diameter circle out of plywood and painted it. Did the same stuff that HW shows above. We even put a 6' step ladder on it and started to climb the ladder.

Same here exactly. BKH

You know, I think it was our era's creativity that came up with some of the things on the water today! We used to make Air Chairs with pipe and pipe flanges!! It did make it fun!

I agree Pete,as you well know you could'nt just go out and buy anything,you had to get creative

backfoot100 wrote: What the hell kinda rope you sportin' there Tim??? Looks a strand is attached to the chair, one to the disc and another to your shorts. Or do we even want to know?

Just a friends junk slalom rope. I was pulling it in so someone in the boat could pass me a beer.

TRBenj wrote: backfoot100 wrote: Did the same stuff that HW shows above. Thats me, Eddie. Hollywood is afraid of the disk- he better stick to kneeboarding. Thats a homemade job too, by the way. A stepladder is a great idea- we'll have to try that next year. Good thing the falls dont hurt much at 10mph.

Sorry Tim, was looking at the wrong sig from HW above yours. I have pics someplace of my wife's nephew doing headstands on the thing too. It was funny as hell watching it. I don't think we even get to 10MPH. The diameter of the one we made looks a bit bigger than yours.