I am thinking about shaping a longboard, something like what wingnut usually rides. Its not a matter of surfing like him, i just want a little more versatility then im on right now, a 9’3 3thick 5050rails, flat rocker, tail and nose bout 2.5-3in rocker, 18inch nose, 15tail 13wide. on my first board i do still want a good boart for cross-stepping and noseriding. i am 6ft, 160. I would love reccomendations on blanks, glassing(weight not a issue really), rockers(tail rocker?, what are the tools i need(im not using a planer, only hand tools) and any other info would be great. Also, I would love to hear about how you guys use asp300 for making patterens for boards, how do you get it to reallife size and transfer it to the board. do you guys have any templates that i could just look at for reference?
Your’re thinking too hard for your first board. You need to get the hand/eye down first, so look to make something that’ll satisfy, without going whole hog technical.
Get a planer, they’re not expensive compared to the work they save. A plane would have to be kept razor sharp, full time all the time. Get a shorty surform too, and some sanding screen, 60 grit and 100 grit sandpaper.
Suggest use a 9-1Y blank, natural rocker. Single six ounce bottom, six ounce deck with 6 ounce deck patch over 2/3 the length. Freelap with UV cure, or cutlap with tint/pigment.
Find a picture of something you like. Enlarge it at your local copy service center. Measure the width of the copy at each 1/8 of it’s length and scale to your desired width (suggest something close to 22"). Draw the scaled widths on the bottom of the blank, and connect the dots. Cut the template a little wide with your hand saw, then bring it true and fair with the surform. Shape the board. Glass the board. Use the Search feature, all this has been posted over and over.
Others may have other suggestions. Your biggest challenge is learning to use the tools, and having enough patience to do the job right.
I’ve only made a few boards. I think taking out thickness and foiling a nine foot board would be much easier, and more uniform with a power planer. Any one will do. Glassing - I would say keep it simple. Two layers of 6 oz on the deck and one on the bottom will make for an easy glass job but I’m sure there are those who would say a longboard should have more glass. If you knee paddle, you might want to put on a deck patch but I would suggest trying that as a separate step afterwards. Mix your resin/catalyst to give a long work time. I try and glass in temp around 70 and inside and find that 10cc of catylist per quart of resin gives a work time of about 30 minutes. You’ll want that much time especially for the deck. Get a helper to glass the board. I can’t imagine doing a board this large first time without a helper…its a lot of ground to cover.
When youre ready to glass, lay out everything ahead of time that you could possibly need for the glassing. Go through it in your mind and imagine the process from start to finish…are your tools on hand? Scissors to cut the drippy/hangy threads? paper towels? Latex Gloves?