What other content (apart from rocker templates) could Blending Curves provide (think big) that would be of value to you and this community that is not available anywhere else?
Do you have pictures Blending Curves could use for the website? I’m contemplating a complete redesign of the site and it would be awesome to get a collection of pictures from actual users (or future users!) of the site. Pictures that capture any part of the shaping/design process would be much appreciated. I’m thinking shaping bay pics, mowing foam pics, cutting outline pics, laying fin panel pics, glassing/sanding/polishing pics…you get the idea. Feel free to email blendingcurves@gmail.com or if you so desire, send me a link to your instagram or other hosting service if you’re cool with me rummaging through and grabbing something I like.
These pictures would only be used as graphics on the website and would never be distributed or sold. I would of course give credit and/or link to your pics/site on a designated spot on the site if you want.
Thanks again for all the support. I’m looking forward to growing the site and community this year!
Only thing I would add would be single sheet 24" x X" templates ready to print if usered took the file to a print shop. A gallery of pictures of boards being built or in action would be great. I’m sure I could kick in some pictures. Perhaps a means for users to add template files as PDFs as well.
In terms of thinking big, this might be useful. What about having an applet, or html5 canvas on the website where you can adjust template curves and rocker curves?
Not neccessarily a full blown, online shaping software, with volume distribution and bottom curves, but something that just simply allows you to make a template, and rocker profile, i.e., get measurements every 12 inches and put a smooth curve between them for both rocker and template.
I like blendingcurves the way it is now. It is a goodlooking website. A gallery etc would detract from that and make it look more like a yardsale. Now its all blue lines :).
The only thing missing are the rocker templates. Then there is all that is needed. Maybe some narrower board too. 60" 18 1/4" and 60" 18 1/2" would be great.
Maybe some accurately drawn templates for shaping tools that people could use to make their own - things like calipers, jigs for fin boxes or plugs, and other things like that.
I’ve made most of my own and have had to muddle my way through it. While I’ve enjoyed the process, I have, at times, gone through 3 or 4 versions of the tool/jig/whatever before getting something that’s actually useful.
I was gonna say jigs for fin boxes too. And if people are submitting pictures it’d be cool to see them tagged with the templates they used, so you can see how it might look in real life.
I also like the current site. It’s very simple and visually uncluttered. Of course it’s your (awesome) site and you make the calls, but I’d caution against making it jumbled or messy.
I will always be a fan of the minimalistic no-frills presentation. That won’t change. There may be some additional value to provide in the way of articles/interviews/etc. All just ideas at this point. Some tutorial videos are definitely coming (finally). Thanks for the input, keep it coming.
Again and again, thanks for hosting Blending Curves.
I worked up a fin from the #16 x 7.5 template not too long ago. I did the foil in FreeCAD and did a one-off on a CNC router.
I agree the current format is refreshingly simple. I was pushing for rockers before but am content with blank catalogs now.
Adding a gallery that points back to the original templates would be nice, making a connection from the ‘idea’ of a template to the ‘reality’ of the finished work. Users could add extra info with the pictures like which blank for a surfboard or panel layup for a fin, construction notes, etc…
I think I would skip the router jigs, too many variables (plunge or fixed router, diameter of bit-bearings-bushings, desired clearances).
Great site, it has been a very valuable resource for a backyarder like me. The rocker templates and jigs are great ideas, Greenlight used (maybe still does) to have rail cross sections and measurments for cutting rail bands. i always found that to be a useful starting point when shaping. plans for tools like hotwire bows might be good too.
Yeah well done on the site has been a really good source for tail templates etc for me!
Rockers would be awesome and liking the fins too… Feel free to check out my Instagram and use any pics etc, most of my boards have been made using various combinations of your templates and stuff i have drawn up: #noesurfcraft1 is the handle
I’m just starting on my second board, but as a beginner i found blendingcurves very usefull and extremely userfriendly. Ofcourse adjustable rocker en outline templates would be a nice option, but the thing I like about the site is the simplicity en the straightforward mind. Either you go with the template, or you don’t. For me this gives some sort of confidence, knowing that the template is ‘‘proven’’ to be good. Not some goofy outlines I made with my first attempt in a shaping program I hardly understand, hoping my untrained eye is good enough for something surfable.
Again, just my opinion as a beginning enthusiast.
Something that came across my mind was to add more variables to the boards you present. The variables available at the moment are the kind of shape you want (fish, egg, retro etc) and some different sizes. But how about getting a little more creative with the possibily to add tail shapes? like choosing a shortboard template but having the possibility to choose a diamond tail, square tail, or bat tail?
And fin placement is a thing I always find difficult. Maybe another variable to consider adding? Like the ability to chose from a thruster setup, twins, or quads?
I understand there is way more to it then just quantity of fins (placement, size etc). but like i said… for a beginner like me it is way more usefull to just choose a setup I like and then being represented the placement for the chosen setup onto the chosen board.
Zooming even further out, all from an unexperienced beginners point of view. The first mistake you can make is choosing the wrong type of board (step 1 on current blendingcurves) with the wrong dimensions (step 2) for the kind of waves you are surfing… When I was picking a template from BC i had a type of board in mind which i THOUGHT would be good for my homebreak, but I am pretty sure that if i would have gone to a local ‘professional’ shaper he would have presented me something different. Because the knowledge you require to match a board with a typical break is something you learn (i assume) through experience…which i don’t have much of…
So think about Blendingcurves acting as a professional shaper… Me, as a client, informing BC by answering several questions; Explaning the type of break i will be surfing (size, form, beach/point, etc), the amount of surfing (and shaping?) experience I have and maybe some desires, like the desire to surf singlefins? (just thinking out loud)
Blendingcurves could then be able to match all of the answers into one/or multiple boards with outline + rocker templates to match the cliens requirements the closest. Something like an online shaping consultant, offering you templates based on your desires.
If i would be able to determine the exact size and form that would work for me, i would probably be at a level where i can design the board from scratch in of the widely available 3d shaping programs. Because that is where these programs are made for, designing boards to the exact dimensions you want. So if you want to distinguish yourself from other 3D shaping software, as helping tool in the shaping process, you could maybe think about not pointing all of your arrows at experienced shapers. But offering a helping hand to the beginning backyarders (which is also a much larger group of prospects). Fulfilling a need, in a market where this need is not yet fulfilled.
I’ve mentioned before that I like the idea of (if possible) user submissions. Kinda like the way US Blanks has various blank shapes created by various shapers, you could possibly have some way for shapers to submit .aku files to you and, if you like them, you can add the templates - obviouisly it would have to be something pretty great and unique to merit adding, and not everything would be added, but it strikes me as a cool idea as I’ve made a few pretty unique outlines of my own I’d want to submit.
Also, I’d love to see more variety in the “alt” and “shortboard” sections - even something as simple as adding newer tail templates that will match existing board templates. Lots of people seem to be getting into things like bat tails, half moons and asyms as of late, and I would love to have a great resource to find templates to suit my desires. I still do most of my own outlines in aku - but there’s also lots of stuff on BC that’s already what I need without the necessity of CADing it out myself.
FINALLY - for those of us who would like to get into hollow wood boards, some slices to go along with the outline and rocker templates would be awesome. I know that’s a lot of slices and a lot of work, but how cool would it be if you could download the slices template for your ribs - with the porting and all - and just trace it on to your wood so you can cut out your ribs along with your rocker profile to essentially get the entire skeleton of your board on BC
Shoots! Great resources - but I was more thinking to match the outline templates BC has so I can use the ribs in conjunction with some of their templates I like already.
However, I will certainly be checking those links out when I’m ready to try my first hollow board!! Freaking awesome man - Mahaloz