Well folk’s, I’ll be gone for a few weeks I think on a sizey house painting job, but I’ll be back to complete my build, and hopefully build me a long board! I think a ninesix by 23" might be k?
I end here tonight saying -try my techniques and see for yourself. Just do a little flip in
the nose, or add sum tail kick…keep in mind, the stock planer doesn’t cut real deep so it takes a bit of time - not much. But keep the calipers on hand to even out the tables. Just try it -so you know I’m not blow n wind. -Jim ps: when im back, ill try to make a demo vid!
The outline cut looks nice and square on your new board!
Since you’re not there yet on the rails, I thought I’d recommend a quick review of the famous Bill Barnfield thread. The image on post #19 tells most of the story:
Also, for inspiration, a link to a video that I think says a lot about what can be done with a cheap stock Black & Decker planer… the music’s pretty sweet too:
Hi John! I’ll check it out. I was going to plane my mods in yesterday, but the wind was blowin like crazy so I’m hold n off til I’m back. My blank is substantially thicker in nose -then tail… so the plan is to plane out my deck from my wide point towards nose to reduce thickness to 1 1/2" or slightly less. My tail thickness 12" up is fine. All there’s to do is blend my rails out into deck, and a little sanding or surform work… plus I have to pick up a round rasp to finish my tail. But man, I’m a happy camper with it ! No-worries, it’s gonna come out sweet! I’m hopeful my test rides will be addicting…then I’ll have to build a
Fleet of um!
I’ve checked out a bit of that post, and I will cut my bottom rail first. Mike -rooster also pointed out John Carper’s Shaping 101 -which is an excellent vid! He recommends two band’s on the deck, and I think he puts the bottom band on first? I’m going for around 1/8" edge after trying a old board like that, but I plan to soften the edge under nose section to hopefully release any rail grab n…im also plotting a double concave to a flat tail by the block. Im rackin my brains try n to figure it out. Night t c -Jim
I like the fact that he does it completely from scratch… no claim to being a master craftsman, no claim to using the most expensive planer on the block… just getting it done in the great outdoors.
However one goes about it, it’s really just boils down to removing excess material and revealing the finished surfboard hidden inside.
I too am impressed with his vid! And man, that balsa is beautiful! If I run across the bucks I’d definitely get sum balsa wood n make a cool board out of it! It’s probably pretty strong glassed also.
Good point. Use whatever tools you have, and remove that unwanted foam.
I too shaped outside is was fun!
It’s raining today and I’m packing for my trip. I’ll pick up the small block plane I left in storage. That’ll help me true my nose flip up…I left cloth there four oz I need also. Now where to find my pigments ! I got sum aqua blue, I just need sum mid toned yellow to mix my mango green…I can airbrush my deck tho. If I cant find locate my airbrush, well, it’s going to have a clear deck . Good times. Thanks for sharing vids - John! And the links. Good stuff. Now back to packing my lunch…t c guys!
The earth is round, the earth is round…but nobody believes. I’m telling you --YOU CAN rough out your ENTIRE blank w stock planer w out “step”, without many steps at all. FYI - when I learned this method I’m referring to I wasn’t aware of wth I was doing. I was just trying to copy a shaper -with the wrong tool, but figured out ways to make it zero out on cuts…it’s personal feel, it’s getting in tune w contouring, it’s the ability to shape a block of foam resembling a surfboard! Because -that’s what it is! Your build n board. I don’t even need to bother with stagger cuts, I don’t even need to modify it…this should be a clue to hurry up and get even a used one.
Ok, time for a smoke break. Hope you enjoyed my post. I had to post pone my trip due to
Seating availability. Anyway, back to packing.
I’m lookin over the “animal” right now, and agree the coord could be replaced to a heavy duty I suppose. But I could wait til it wears out first…
The handle and trigger is fine, but perhaps change to sealed bearings…that’s all it could use that I could see. I should mension I had zero probs gouging my blank w shoe, but I help my planer horizontal to surface the whole time whilst planing.
I just found out it comes with a two yr warranty. That’s not too bad bcuz you can build a good deal of stuff in two yrs.