Blaxell Reborn

Hi All

Well after some umming and ahhing I’ve decided to attempt a full restoration of this little gem.

Got the belt sander out and skinned off the base of the rails, everything just peeled off to reveal a pretty well water damaged blank.

I’ve sanded some of the brown down by about 1/16" but I think I might have to spray the blank white to bring it back to look somewhat decent.

I’ve worked out how to reproduce the logos. I’ve taken some digital pictures of them before the skinning and have photoshopped them so I can now print them on rice paper.

Just a couple of questions, I’ve got a couple of 1" chunks taken out of the blank from dings filled with solid resin, would you cut them out and replace with new foam or fill them with something else?

Would anyone (probably West Ozzies) out there know who AB is? (not Alan Border)



If they’re on the rails yes. If on the deck or bottom, that usually means a routered hole and shaping a plug to fit. I normally fill only if there’s some surrounding glass. Shaping a filled area in the middle of foam usually results in the foam getting torn up. Cut the new foam into a wedge (if on a rail) and take the time to get a very good fit or else you’ll see a big glue line. To bond the new piece in, use some Q-cell/Sil-cell with lam resin and clamp the new piece in. Trim it down with a surform and 80 grit; watch the glue line because it will cut differently. Were you going to strip all the glass off? You may have a difficulty trying to enough white paint on the browned-out foam to get sufficient hide.

Hey Pete,

Yes they’re on the rails, that’s a good tip, I’ll give it a go.

I’ve taken all the glass off (have a look at the piccies) so I might have to seal it first then spray it white.

I’ve still got a legrope plug to fill in so I might have to make a scone cutter to cut out a filler plug.

Thanks for that info.

Quote:

Would anyone (probably West Ozzies) out there know who AB is? (not Alan Border)

What about Allan BYRNE? Is there a chance?

Hmmm you’ve got me wondering.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!!!

Well, thinking about an aussie shaper with A.B. initials, that’s just the first name that came to mind…

Besides, the board’s outline has a very natural curve to it that reminds me of some Byrne’s shapes that I have seen. But I sincerely don’t know. Any other track?

Quote:
Quote:

Would anyone (probably West Ozzies) out there know who AB is? (not Alan Border)

What about Allan BYRNE? Is there a chance?

close …Al Bean !

Glad to see the fin came off smoothly …save that …we’ll mould a base and fin box it . Give the board some single fin options ! [I’ve got a few fins …

ben

OK, it’s taken some time but here’s the progress pics.

Before

Channels anyone??

Next…



Joanne and her very steady hands!!!

Burgundy with a gold metallic pinline in acrylic

Rex the guard dog, deck with metallic gold and burgundy pinline

More…



Mackenzie (Future World Surfing Champion) with the high tech hair dryer

Those channels look nice, how about we accentuate them a bit…

With some glitter!!! Lavz came up for the afternoon and filmed the process…

one more…



More glitter on the burgundy… board renamed…

Bottom nearly glassed…

Roughed out deck patch…see what I mean Lavz…

More to come over the next few days…



alright !!

…good to see the pics , Grant !!

[can’t wait to see your footage too , Lavz !!]

ben

and of course , can’t wait to ride the finished board ! [ can we take it to scarbs one day ? … see if Ant you can get the vid happening again …maybe film each other …“the two goofies and the natural” ]

Sweet resto hicksy!

Thanks Doug,

The hardest bit was colouring the brown blank white. 2 rattle cans did the job just right. BTW the colour from the glitter in the channels ran down the lap so I rattled them again, turned out just right.

At 5’ 5" x 19" the girls are going to have fun on this one come summertime…

5’5 ???

damn …

too small for me then .

I thought it was AT LEAST 5’9 " ??

cheers !

ben

Hicksy, why do you do so many cuts in your laps?

Sweeeeet. Great photos.

I’ve had a look through the footage as well… going to transfer it, cut it up into peices and edit it so its a bit smaller.

I’ll post them onto the web for everyone to see when thats done. Watching the glassing in fast forward looks really good actually.

Yeah the deck patch looks pretty good actually. It’s almost the size of another layer though? Would it have been easier to just put two layers?

Turned out really well… good work mate.

L

really enjoying the thread! tell us how those channels feels like.

jimmyyoshioshibata.

Howzit Hicksy, Looks like wrapping the rails on those racks will be a pain in the arse. Make some adapters that attach to the racks for glassing, would be real easy to do  and make glassing a lot easier. and yes why all the relief cuts.Aloha,Kokua

Hey Hicksy,

Good old rattlers. What kind did you use? Acrylic?

5’5"?? It looks bigger. Are you a shorty? If so you can join the club my wife will soon be starting (since she is 5’6" :wink:

A good mate who we recently got interested in surfing finally got rid of the tiny thruster he has been trying to learn on for the last 12 months and bought 7’6" funboard. He was stoked at the bargain he got. I didn’t have the heart to point out all the little cracks and foam discoloration (why dont people listen? I told him to take me along). It’s gonna head for delam city in a big way one day and I can see me restoing it! Assuming the foam is too stuffed.

-doug