My problem is this: I would like to shape a board that I have the shape and dimensions of in my head (specifically a fish like the robert august buddy llamas “fishy fish”). Basically I dont have a template, but I know the dimensions I want. How would I go about creating a template with no board to base it off of?..obviously I dont own the board I want to make this one similar to. How would you guys go about it?
Hey, Use cad software to input all the data, you gonna have a template in a minute. Regards,
You got your dimensions. Plot them on your blank. Pick a side, take a whip antenna, a sail battan (one of herb’s techniques), or an old stripped fishing rod. What ever you pick, you want something that, when you pull it to form an arc it bends consistantly (that’s why you would not want to use something like a thin wood dowel, when you bend it the grain in the wood does not allow to follow a natural curve, you get the idea). Get some heavy nails, like 16 penny. Take whatever you are gonna use for the curve line and set it next to one of your plotted points. Note the thickness of whatever you are using and take the nail and stick it straight into the foam on the OUTSIDE of whatever you are using. What you are doing is putting these nails in the foam on the OUTSIDE of each of your points, so that when you place say a sail battan in there, the INSIDE of the battan will be right in line with your plotted point. Do one at the nose tip, one at the 12" nose point, one at the center point, one at the 12" tail point, and one at the tail. You can tweak the battan (or whatever) between these nails in your foam. When you get your curve the way you want it, trace INSIDE the battan (or whatever) and your trace should hit all your plotted points, with the curves in between your points being dictated by how you tweak whatever you are using to make your curve (at first, you might need some help holding the curve, while tracing). If it seems sketchy to you just practice on the outside edge of the blank. You only have to do one side of the blank. When you get one side cut out and trued up, use that side to trace your planeshape onto some kind of template material (cardboard, masonite, whatever). Cut out your new template, true it up, and use it to trace your planeshape on the other side of the blank. It sounds funky, but not really. The key is getting something that curves consistently (without any weird flat spots in the arc), and just connect the dots. Good Luck.
Or you could post the dims, and I could post you 3 dimensions of matrix numbers in inches. How do you want the outline? rails? thickness? rocker?
You got your dimensions. Plot them on your blank. Pick a side, take a whip > antenna, a sail battan (one of herb’s techniques), or an old stripped > fishing rod. What ever you pick, you want something that, when you pull it > to form an arc it bends consistantly (that’s why you would not want to use > something like a thin wood dowel, when you bend it the grain in the wood > does not allow to follow a natural curve, you get the idea). Get some > heavy nails, like 16 penny. Take whatever you are gonna use for the curve > line and set it next to one of your plotted points. Note the thickness of > whatever you are using and take the nail and stick it straight into the > foam on the OUTSIDE of whatever you are using. What you are doing is > putting these nails in the foam on the OUTSIDE of each of your points, so > that when you place say a sail battan in there, the INSIDE of the battan > will be right in line with your plotted point. Do one at the nose tip, one > at the 12" nose point, one at the center point, one at the 12" > tail point, and one at the tail. You can tweak the battan (or whatever) > between these nails in your foam. When you get your curve the way you want > it, trace INSIDE the battan (or whatever) and your trace should hit all > your plotted points, with the curves in between your points being dictated > by how you tweak whatever you are using to make your curve (at first, you > might need some help holding the curve, while tracing). If it seems > sketchy to you just practice on the outside edge of the blank.>>> You only have to do one side of the blank. When you get one side cut out > and trued up, use that side to trace your planeshape onto some kind of > template material (cardboard, masonite, whatever). Cut out your new > template, true it up, and use it to trace your planeshape on the other > side of the blank.>>> It sounds funky, but not really. The key is getting something that curves > consistently (without any weird flat spots in the arc), and just connect > the dots. Good Luck. the arc thing is the right Idea, you can also use plastic moulding from home depot or any lage do-it yourself place. the plastic makes a nice even curve & is pretty cheep. You can test them, to see witch ones work the best by bending & tweeking them before you buy!!
post the dims and i’ll design a full template that i can email you. take it to kinko’s (hopefully you have one) and print it out on their over-sized plotter for around $10. then using a spray adhesive (found at any hardware store) glue it on your blank using the stringer to line it up perfectly. all that’s left to do is follow the curves and the result is a perfectly symmetrical outline! and don’t worry, we can design the template to your exact specs. my software is parametric (totally modifiable.) cg
post the dims and i’ll design a full template that i can email you. take > it to kinko’s (hopefully you have one) and print it out on their > over-sized plotter for around $10. then using a spray adhesive (found at > any hardware store) glue it on your blank using the stringer to line it up > perfectly. all that’s left to do is follow the curves and the result is a > perfectly symmetrical outline!>>> and don’t worry, we can design the template to your exact specs. my > software is parametric (totally modifiable.)>>> cg what would program would be the best for surfboard design? thankx peter
Use Turbocad. It has a bezier curve editor for designing surfboard shapes. Autocad beziers won’t let you warp the end control points like you need for surfboard design. Turbocad warps them easily. I’d bet the DAT surfboard design program (used in the high-end shaping machines) uses Turbocad as its CAD engine. They look identical. Turbocad is WAY mo betta than the more expensive programs. Turbocad is easier to use and more pwerful. Plus, it loads and saves in the other guys’ file formats. You can even save a print file for printing at Kinko’s. You can learn how to design and print Turbocad’s bezier curves in a couple of hours. After that, you can turn out your own designs in minutes. The Turbocad link below sometimes has free trial downloads. http://www.turbocad.com/ 
Yup Noodle, I use it to design the template and print it out. Stick these printouts onto a plywood and cut it into the shape. The disadvantage is have to spend few hours/days to learn. Once you’re familar with this stuff, you can easily draw template in a minute. Regards, Crabie
just go with the plastic edging at lowes for $1.79 and do it the 3 nail way. its easy and cheap. cheap being the keyword. about 2.15 for the whole setup INCLUDING THE PENCIL!! austin
Sorry, I build boards out of eps foam block. In order to keep a even rail, a plywood template is a must. The hotwire cut long the template to make a smoothy and even rail. Here cant get the Clark foam as it adds US$ 100.00 to the transportation cost~~~~~~~~… P.S. eps foam blank is much difficult to shape than pu blank.
post the dims and i’ll design a full template that i can email you. take > it to kinko’s (hopefully you have one) and print it out on their > over-sized plotter for around $10. then using a spray adhesive (found at > any hardware store) glue it on your blank using the stringer to line it up > perfectly. all that’s left to do is follow the curves and the result is a > perfectly symmetrical outline!>>> and don’t worry, we can design the template to your exact specs. my > software is parametric (totally modifiable.)>>> cg CG, I have a plotter that can print 42" wide by 10’ plus on all kinds of paper stock. mabey we can do some trading?? Ray
Those big plotters are great, but you only need a $300.00 dot matrix wide-carriage printer for printing surfboard templates.
ray, where do you live? cg
the arc thing is the right Idea, you can also use plastic moulding from > home depot or any lage do-it yourself place. the plastic makes a nice even > curve & is pretty cheep. You can test them, to see witch ones work the > best by bending & tweeking them before you buy!! Metal door threshold material makes a great batten for tracing curves,it comes in long lengths and is cheap at Home Depo.
post the dims and i’ll design a full template that i can email you. take > it to kinko’s (hopefully you have one) and print it out on their > over-sized plotter for around $10. then using a spray adhesive (found at > any hardware store) glue it on your blank using the stringer to line it up > perfectly. all that’s left to do is follow the curves and the result is a > perfectly symmetrical outline!>>> and don’t worry, we can design the template to your exact specs. my > software is parametric (totally modifiable.)>>> cg Thanks for the offer, I would like to take you up on it…the dimensions are as follows… 6’ long, 2 5/8" thick, 20 1/2" wide (at center of course), 13 1/2" nose (12 inches down of course), and 14 1/2" tail (12 inches up…of course). Thanks and if I can do something for you let me know. Also, I dont mean to be insulting you by the whole 12 inches and center thing…im sure you know where its measured, but I can never be sure, I have several friends that dont measure that way. It sure makes it confusing to normal people, haha.
that board sounds like it wants to be a swallowtail, yes? if so, tell me how deep you want the swallow. cg
it would also help to know where you want the wide point and how wide you wanted the tailblock. cg
nick, at 6 feet, a 20.5" wide board with a 13.5" nose isn’t looking right. you may want to increase the width of the nose so your outline has a smoother flow. what’s your email address? cg
nick,>>> at 6 feet, a 20.5" wide board with a 13.5" nose isn’t looking > right. you may want to increase the width of the nose so your outline has > a smoother flow. what’s your email address?>>> cg What about something like a 14" or 14.5" tail? As for the swallow tail, I want it to be fairly subtle…something like 2 inches? My email address is . Thanks again… Nick.