Wel, I have my first board finally complete. It was definitely a learning exerience. Ive been surfing for a little over 30 years, living in california, Hawaii and now Florida. I know what boards i like to ride and how different widths,length, rails ect… all feel different in various waves, weak, juice ect… So i know what i want to ride and tried to make it myself… Whewwww alot harder than i thought. I tried to keep everything symetrical ect… Well by the time i was done it was 1/4 ‘’ narrower than i wanted and thinner in the nose area than i wanted. I put a single concave to double to slight v out the tail. I actually thought that came out pretty good until after it was glassed. w/ the straight edge on the bottom the concave looked really good, except when i felt it w/ the hand all over the bottom… some highs and lows in the concave i could feel…oops… also the deck had some highs and lows i could feel better now that its glassed… To sum it up its definitely not perfect and has some issues.Even trying as hard as possible to get it perfect… NO Can Do. Gotta start somewhere i guess, Next i have to ride it and then i’ll be able to feel what needs to be worked on…cant wait to ride it! I didnt glas it, I took it over to Tomahawk in Indian Harbour and let the pros glass it( Larry Pope). I live in Indialantic. So heres some pics… cant wait to improve on da next one… If anyone who reads this who lives in melbourne beach area would like to let me watch them shape a board and let me see how its done rite id be stoked!! Much Aloha
heres a couple pics
Huzzah! That looks really good!
Not sure if you used side lights but they will allow you to see most of the lumps that you can’t feel. How’s it ride?
Looks fine to me mate. In fact, looks like its got enough width and curve to be a loose small wave board.
Thanks, I had some sidelights on one side… thats the side that turned out ok.!.jk. just some low spots w/in the single concave area. Havent got to get it in the water yet, we had a small swell when i picked it up from the glasser but it wasnt cured all the way yet. Now the surfs pretty much flat w/ no swell in sight for the week. Yeah once it i get it in the water and put in on a rail i’ll be able to tell how it rides and go from there…
Thanks beerfan. That was the exact plan to be a loose small wave florida board… we’ll see once i get to ride it!
looks good found, should be fun!
Thanks a2tall. Still waiting for the surf to pick up… nothing brewing out there yet
That’s a great looking first board! Congrats!
Looks very good for a first board. Side lights and careful sanding and screening on the finish will eliminate the highs and lows, bumps etc. For the flats use a block. One wood and one padded with EVA. For a final screen use a 9x11" piece of one inch thick upholstery foam and screen. Stop, stand back and look at it from differant angles of sight. Go easy and slow on the finish. Establish a process from start to finish that works best for you. Change and improve your methods and process with each shape. It's easy to miss stuff on the finish. Refining and developing your method and process will improve future shapes.
Thanks Woody, it was alot of fun to make, and frustrating at times to:)
Thanks Mcding. Thanks for the advice, i/ll definitely put it into practice. I’m ready to get working on the next one.
Much Aloha
Oh and remember; take the stringer down flush with your mini-plane as one of the very last steps. Then screen the stringer with the block to clean up the foam tear along the stringer Suprising how many shapers think the stringer is ok and then after glassing realize they left it "proud"(too high). Too late to do anything about it after the the lamination. Alot of shapers also leave the torn foam along the stringer. Which is just plain sloppy. I've seen some of the best in Calif leave torn foam at the stringer.
I saw this on some very well known shaper’s boardshere in a CA shop. glassed with a purple tint…and it looked like crap.
Very cool. It’s inspiring because I’m in the middle of my first build. Congrats on a nice job.
Yeah, I kept chasing that stringer when i was finished. I’d go as easy as possible w/ the trim plane to take the stringer down flush and would still put some scratches/tears in the foam, then sand the foam to get out the scratches, now my stringer would be a little high again! kept chasing it!! I didnt use any screen though. I finally gave in and took it to get glassed. I let Larry (glasser) know about the stringer being a little high, he said it wasnt to bad. The thickness of my blank i started out with was 2 15/16, i wanted the finish to be 2 3/8, so i had plenty of room for error… i ended up w/ 2 3/8 thicness… would have been less if i kept messing w/ the stringer… Just got to keep at it and hopefully gets better… Still waiting for the surf to pick up.
Thanks surfingknife.Yeah were really stoked to have this site.Theres alot of talent on here thats willing to help us guys just learning to shape our own boards. Back in the day that didnt happen to much unless tou had an “in”. Great site for all of us to learn and appreciate our sport and craft building!!
Can’t wait till the day when i can actually shape a board and it turns out just like i envisioned and rides the same as well! I might be an old man by that time!!
Much Aloha
You’re hooked now!
Looks like you have a great space to start with…plenty of room etc. The addition of sidelights to my workspace may have been the single best improvement to my shaping. Looks like your halfway there already!
All the best!
Woody
Screen ------- 220 and a wooden sanding block. No padding. Or if you use padding use EVA (yoga mat). Screen doesn't take the stringer down and the flat wooden block brings the foam along the stringer down flush with the stringer. I prefer to leave my string a hair below the foam.
Yeah I could name names but the fan club would get upset.