I want to create the "Best Sanding Blocks Ever"

Definitely would be put to good use
 

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Video format will definitely be best, minor ripples/urethane wave don't really show up well in pictures. Other blocks can make panels look good enough for pics, you really want to advertise the difference these make in flatness so it will take video to visualize that. Videos shot at a low angle to the panel while moving the camera around will make the difference very evident.

This is a bed side I did, it's skim coated and blocked, then shot with epoxy/poly and blocked with an acrylic block from 80 to 400 and wiped down with W&G remover to check the reflection. Results with your blocks should be identical since the handle is the only difference in the block itself. I should be starting bodywork on the cab/front clip around the middle of January; I'd be willing to test/review the blocks if they'll be available then, and I already document all of my work so I'll be taking pics/vids anyway.

 
Where do I put my order in Dean? [No I am not restoring another car... No I am not restoring another car.... No I am not restoring another car.....]

Oops.. sorry I see the link above now.
 
Awesome Dean! I signed up today for the pre sale notification. Sounds like it will be just in time to deploy on my Matador Red 68 Z/28!

camaro body mockup (2).jpg
 
dhutton01 said:
Dean, what is the reason for the reluctance to produce 24 inch and longer blocks?

Don
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Cost. The current manufacturing process is compression molding nitrile rubber. The 8" and 16" come out awesome and come in at a reasonable cost.
The 24", using this process, is more than double the cost of the other two combined. That is due to the amount of raw material needed and a longer cool down time, which makes the cycle time on the tool too long.

However, I did just get a sample yesterday that was made using a different process and material. It is a foam/rubber blend and is extruded.
With the extrusion, the ends don't get molded into a nice rounded finish, like you see in the prototype, they are just cut off square.
I think this will work for the 24" block and I'm hoping to be able to offer it at the same time the 8 and 16 inch are launched.
 
I just want to say that I appreciate that you acknowledged AFS in your video. The AFS blocks are great tools and it appears that you may have fixed the slight shortcomings they had! Very nice!

The owner of AFS was a pretty stand up guy. I ordered one 12" block from him just to try them out before I spent some real money, and I honestly forgot that I ordered it. When it dawned on me that I had not received it I emailed him letting him know and he apologized and sent me a complete set of blocks. I contacted him again and told him I would like to pay for them all and that his generosity was absolutely not necessary, but he insisted.
 
Dean Jenkins said:
Cost. The current manufacturing process is compression molding nitrile rubber. The 8" and 16" come out awesome and come in at a reasonable cost.
The 24", using this process, is more than double the cost of the other two combined. That is due to the amount of raw material needed and a longer cool down time, which makes the cycle time on the tool too long.

However, I did just get a sample yesterday that was made using a different process and material. It is a foam/rubber blend and is extruded.
With the extrusion, the ends don't get molded into a nice rounded finish, like you see in the prototype, they are just cut off square.
I think this will work for the 24" block and I'm hoping to be able to offer it at the same time the 8 and 16 inch are launched.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Makes sense. I thought you were using an extrusion for all the lengths.

I think there is a solid market for longer blocks. I have been following this yacht refit on Instagram. Apparently they use two man sanding blocks.


Don
 
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dhutton01 said:
Thanks. Makes sense. I thought you were using an extrusion for all the lengths.

I think there is a solid market for longer blocks. I have been following this yacht retrofit on Instagram. Apparently they use two man sanding blocks.
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Extrusion vs. molding. Very long, boring story, complete with hero's and villains. Someday maybe I'll write a book about new product development.
Bottom line is I pursued both in parallel. Good thing, as it looks like I'll probably use both.

Interesting that you linked to that yacht video. Just last night I posted the YouTube video on my Facebook page and a friend responded "Unsure if you have considered wider applications than car restorations, but I know quite a few sailors who spend the spring fairing their hulls in preparation for racing season. A 24" black Diamond could be the bee's knees, Deano. Jus' sayin."

Hmmm.
 
Dean Jenkins said:
Getting so close! Tools are being made, production looking like mid-January.
I know many have expressed interest in the "pre-sale.".
Here is a link to "officially" sign up and be notified when the pre-sale goes live.


Cannot express how excited I am to get this going!

Oh, and here is a YouTube video I did, explaining the concept:

Click to expand...

Well done Dean, well done.

I can only imagine the amount of work involved to launch a new product. You've handled it with upmost professionalism. Looking forward to wrapping my fingers around your blocks this coming spring.

All the best to you and yours.
Mike,
 
MJM said:
Well done Dean, well done.

I can only imagine the amount of work involved to launch a new product. You've handled it with upmost professionalism. Looking forward to wrapping my fingers around your blocks this coming spring.

All the best to you and yours.
Mike,
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Very kind words. Thank you.
No one wants your fingers wrapped around a "Black Diamond Block" more than me.
And it will happen, soon.
 
JimKueneman said:
Where do I put my order in Dean? [No I am not restoring another car... No I am not restoring another car.... No I am not restoring another car.....]

Oops.. sorry I see the link above now.
Click to expand...
When we discuss the purchase of bikes we use the N+1 rule. I feel that this rule applies to you.
This is to set a limit as to how many bikes we must purchase, it's to be used as a guide and should be taken seriously

N being the number of bikes you currently own, the +1 is how many you are supposed to own. If you look at this formula properly, it's rather restricting as you are only allowed to make one purchase at a time, but after said purchase you must now re-evaluate the rule of +1, and begin your journey all over again.

In your case we can re-structure said rule to M+1 where the M is short for Mopar.

Happy shopping. ;):)
 
Chad.S said:
When we discuss the purchase of bikes we use the N+1 rule. I feel that this rule applies to you.
This is to set a limit as to how many bikes we must purchase, it's to be used as a guide and should be taken seriously

N being the number of bikes you currently own, the +1 is how many you are supposed to own. If you look at this formula properly, it's rather restricting as you are only allowed to make one purchase at a time, but after said purchase you must now re-evaluate the rule of +1, and begin your journey all over again.

In your case we can re-structure said rule to M+1 where the M is short for Mopar.

Happy shopping. ;):)
Click to expand...

Yea I know that rule…. I want to live by different rules….:confused:
 
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