Best Tips for Shaping a Custom Surfboard for Beginners

General Discussion
1

Hello Swaylocks community,

I’m a newbie to surfboard shaping and would like to seek some guidance from seasoned shapers here. I’ve been reading some threads and watching videos, but I’m still not clear on where to begin. I want to shape a custom board for myself, but as a beginner, I don’t want to make common mistakes.

In particular, I’m wondering what the most suitable materials would be for an initial project. Should I stick with a foam blank, or is there any other material less demanding to shape for beginners? What are the most important tips in shaping, and how would I go about creating the rocker and outline of the board?

I’d also love any recommendations on tools that will make the process smoother, especially for someone just starting out. I’ve got the basics down but would really appreciate any advice or resources that can guide me along the way.

Thanks in advance for your help, excited to learn from you all!

Cheers,
michael

2

Polyurethane foam glassed with Polyester or Epoxy resin is your simplest process. If $$ are the issue you can sometimes by a “second”. Most of the time there is not a discernible flaw in the blank… They are usually about half price. Concentrate on the shaping process. I highly recommend the Ben Aipa shaping video done by Fiberglass Hawaii. Every question asked in your original post is answered in that video. One step at a time.