whats the easiest way to put in channels? thanks
i like to tape mine off. i have small sanding blocks to make the channels. make sure when you are done that you round off the edges of the channels so the cloth will lay down easy. i use a small round dowel with 150 wrapped around it to round out the bottom of the channels. and make them deep enough so the hot coat won’t fill them in. that’s pretty much it in a nutshell. good luck.
The classic channel cutting tool here in Australia is a “Surform” blade, like cheesegraters for wood, which come in several types. While not designed specifically for surfboard manufacturing, they have a cylindical model which is perfect for cutting channels. Not sure if these r available in U.S. I tape my channel lines rather than use a pencil line as the tape forms a barrier to prevent going over the line. Cut thr slots to the length & depth u want . then remove the tape & cut the flat surface of the channel with a flat surfform & finish with blocks.I have a block which is bevelled on one edge to the curve I want in my channel.This is hard to explain… http://www.speedneedle.com.au