Bingham ski kits

[Kevin Brooker]

Anyone else remember the Bingham x/c ski kits? I'm looking for a set of drawings and books. If you have a lead please let me know. Thanks, Kevin

[Flem]

Can't help you with Bingham's, but there are lots of sites and info on building skis. Ski builders comes to mind and 333 or Community skis has some interesting videos.

[Kevin Brooker]

Thanks for the info and response. Most on line ski site are building alpine gear. The Bingham kit was specifically for cross country equipment. Much of the process is similar to building a bow. The kits were distributed in the 80s. I can figure it out and was hoping to at least be put on a path to some moderate success.

I contacted Bingham and they have no info on the old offerings. My hope is someone on a trad forum remembers these or has a set of press drawings stashed in a box under a few inches of dust up on some almost forgotten corner of the shop.

I cleaned up my work space the other day and found all sorts of plans and whatnot so there is a ray of hope some pack-rat dreamer like myself has a set or an idea of where to get them. Internet searches turn up nothing.

[Flem]

Your right, they are all alpine gear. I guess I was thinking one could adapt materials and techniques.
You will probably have to reinvent the XC ski anyways.

[Kevin Brooker]

Adapting the technique and materials is expected. I was hoping the kit might get me closer in terms of flex and usability. I have deconstructed a few pair of wood core skis and will take apart a few more when I find them. The cores are not solid in the kick zone camber, essentially the riser of a bow except they need to flex in order to set the kick wax onto the snow and pop back up to release it. They are vertically laminated with 1/16" veneers set about 1/16" apart. The front and rear of the ski is laminated just like a bow with a tapered veneer of wood on top of the camber and another beneath. There is also a layer of glass as a topsheet and a plastic P-TEX, sintered UHMWP (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) base to absorb the glide wax and provide a better sliding surface for the snow.

[fujimo]

i will be watching this, as its something i have been very keen on and done a pile of searching and research on.

[Flem]

Sounds like you are dialed in. You don't need no stinking' kit!
I've only made skis for AT, a little simpler that what you have planed.

[Kevin Brooker]

I'll keep you all posted on what I find either about the Bingham kit or just jumping in and making a pair of skis. Thanks for the replies and encouragement

[slowbowjoe]

I've long appreciated the similarities between xc skis and bows, being both a skier and archer. Only "plans" I remember seeing was an old article a few decades ago showing an old timer making skis out of a piece of solid ash. Always intrigued me. Self bows of the ski world.

[Pat B]

Have you contacted Bingham yet? The times I need their help a phone call was all I needed to do. They were more than helpful.

[Kevin Brooker]

They were the first call. Nobody there has even a recollection of the kits being available. Makes me wonder if I'm imagining them too.