Board building is a difficult trade which must be learned slowly by studying great boards; by trying at the outset to imitate them; by daring to be original; by destroying one’s first productions; by comparing subsequent work to recognized masterpieces and once more, by destroying them; by weeping from despair; by being more severe with oneself than even the critics will be. After many years of such arduous activity, if one has talent, one may begin to build boards in acceptable manner.
I seem to be trying at the outset to destroy my first productions while they’re still in production.
I seem to be trying at the outset to destroy my first productions while > they’re still in production. J.R. you are suffering from a disease called “Craftsman Syndrome” in other words you will never be satisfied with your end product.That is the best thing that ever happened to you, you will keep on trying and innovating but you aint never gonna build the perfect board.If you reach the point in your life that you think that you can do perfect work just give it up…it will cease to be fun.I have been wasting my time with boards for 35 years…I still have fun.(With exeption of sanding of course)
J.R. you are suffering from a disease called “Craftsman > Syndrome” in other words you will never be satisfied with your end > product.That is the best thing that ever happened to you, you will keep on > trying and innovating but you aint never gonna build the perfect board.If > you reach the point in your life that you think that you can do perfect > work just give it up…it will cease to be fun.I have been wasting my time > with boards for 35 years…I still have fun.(With exeption of sanding of > course) …I’m building 2 boards for myself right now,both have simular shapes and volumes.One is perfect,and is effortless in it construction.the other…ha…let’s say it is the ,“board from hell” kinda thing going.All in all the latter is coming along just fine,it’s just alittle developmentally delayed.Herb
Board building is a difficult trade which must be learned slowly by > studying great boards; by trying at the outset to imitate them; by daring > to be original; by destroying one’s first productions; by comparing > subsequent work to recognized masterpieces and once more, by destroying > them; by weeping from despair; by being more severe with oneself than even > the critics will be. After many years of such arduous activity, if one has > talent, one may begin to build boards in acceptable manner. I always thought that being original was when you weren`t trying to be? Destruction, pain and despair? Sounds more like a fun day at the beach to me! If a person had any talent, why would they choose to build surfboards in the first place? The planer, then the whip and finally the coat of hair. I knew shaping and S&M were related!
I always thought that being original was when you weren`t trying to be?>>> Destruction, pain and despair? Sounds more like a fun day at the beach to > me!>>> If a person had any talent, why would they choose to build surfboards in > the first place?>>> The planer, then the whip and finally the coat of hair. I knew shaping and > S&M were related! You got it…it is a dusty stinking job…total insanity.As for the talent thing I guess that most of the masochist backyard builders would be better off buying an offshore molded epoxy clone.This board building thing is an obsession that is hard to understand…Swaylocks feeds the addiction.I would be willing to bet that the next step forward in design or fabrication comes from the fanatics on this site.
…I’m building 2 boards for myself right now,both have > simular shapes and volumes.One is perfect,and is effortless in it > construction.the other…ha…let’s say it is the ,“board from > hell” kinda thing going.All in all the latter is coming along just > fine,it’s just alittle developmentally delayed.Herb Channin, who was once self touted as one of the universes best laminators, went for the Chris Slick type of 4 channel, ice blue tint boards a short while back. I walked in as he was wetting the bottom and f*****g with the channels, any word from me would have been greeted with growls, so I turned and walked out of the room. THe enxt day, while he ws nowhere to be found, I went back to look over his disaterpiece,bubbles and floates along the entire length of all 4 channels. From the point on it was up to Randy Wong to SAVE the board, hours of dremeling and patching with a follow up of air spray on the channel edges. Boards from hell!!!
Channin, who was once self touted as one of the universes best laminators, > went for the Chris Slick type of 4 channel, ice blue tint boards a short > while back. I walked in as he was wetting the bottom and f*****g with the > channels, any word from me would have been greeted with growls, so I > turned and walked out of the room. THe enxt day, while he ws nowhere to be > found, I went back to look over his disaterpiece,bubbles and floates along > the entire length of all 4 channels. From the point on it was up to Randy > Wong to SAVE the board, hours of dremeling and patching with a follow up > of air spray on the channel edges. Boards from hell!!! …yeah,that’s the problem with channels as you may well know.You can’t pull on them from side to side ,during laminating they will just go off with air in them. You have to float the glass and let them fill underneath with resin…then the sander comes along ,and grinds out all the glass in the crack,but it looks solid?Then the polisher heats up the upper edge,and flats of the channels and makes it a real,“ready to crack-up bottom”.Herb
…yeah,that’s the problem with channels as you may well know.You > can’t pull on them from side to side ,during laminating they will just go > off with air in them. You have to float the glass and let them fill > underneath with resin…then the sander comes along ,and grinds > out all the glass in the crack,but it looks solid?Then the polisher heats > up the upper edge,and flats of the channels and makes it a > real,“ready to crack-up bottom”.Herb Channels…big pain no doubt.This may help but who knows.I took a 2’’ foam roller and pre pressed the dry glass down into the channels.I cut an old squeegee down to 3" and rounded the corners…it got into the channel depths but I had to baby the glass job using my fingers until the resin kicked off.As for sanding I had to use a little hitachi vibrator sander to do the job.I polished it with a little wool bonnet that went on my electric drill.Never again unless I get major bucks.
…yeah,that’s the problem with channels as you may well know.You > can’t pull on them from side to side ,during laminating they will just go > off with air in them. You have to float the glass and let them fill > underneath with resin…then the sander comes along ,and grinds > out all the glass in the crack,but it looks solid?Then the polisher heats > up the upper edge,and flats of the channels and makes it a > real,“ready to crack-up bottom”.Herb Channels don’t have to be a pain in the a–. The trick is to lay down some lam resin in the channel and let it kick, then lay out your glass and tuck it into the channels. It’ll stick because resin is tacky, now cut your glass and do your thing.Works every time. Aloha,Kokua
Channels don’t have to be a pain in the a–. The trick is to lay down some > lam resin in the channel and let it kick, then lay out your glass and tuck > it into the channels. It’ll stick because resin is tacky, now cut your > glass and do your thing.Works every time. Aloha,Kokua Ha!Thats friggin ingeneous! I am stoked because this method would apply in all sorts of difficult applications.How do you sand or polish the channels?Thanks eh Kokua…you one focking good da kine Haole.(uh oh…what if you are local?I no like beef eh.)
Ha!Thats friggin ingeneous! I am stoked because this method would apply in > all sorts of difficult applications.How do you sand or polish the > channels?Thanks eh Kokua…you one focking good da kine Haole.(uh > oh…what if you are local?I no like beef eh.) Yeah I’m a haole, but after 33 years in the Islands I think like a local. But back to the business at hand, I machine sand what I can and do the delicate sanding by hand with a sanding block I made with an slight angle to it. When I rub out channels I use the outer edge strands of the bonnet. I also use this technique on the rail section of the nose and tail(2 areas most likely to hit weave).
Channels don’t have to be a pain in the a–. The trick is to lay down some > lam resin in the channel and let it kick, then lay out your glass and tuck > it into the channels. It’ll stick because resin is tacky, now cut your > glass and do your thing.Works every time. Aloha,Kokua That
s the way Ive always done it… use the laminating resin as contact cement. Its like magic compared to any other method Ive ever tried.
That
s the way Ive always done it… use the laminating resin as contact > cement. Its like magic compared to any other method Ive ever tried. Thanks Dale…I was kinda jiving Kokua but it really is a great idea.I’ve been ruining boards for over thirty years and never thought of doing this.That is why I love this site…you gotta keep watching it closely for these tricks to surface.Alot of the guys around here have decades of experience and don’t think twice a about tips like this…too basic I guess…its the little things that matter.My day is made.