I’m currently shaping my first board and I have been using a 6’2" fish template that I got from greenlight surf supply. I have just finished the outline and am now moving on to the rocker of the board. I’m trying to find the best way to learn how to make the rocker as opposed to keeping the one that comes with the blank. I’m doing this all in my garage and have limited supplies (belt sander, hand saw, block plane, level, and measuring tape). Do you guys and gals have any adive you could throw my way when it comes to the rocker and thickness of my board? I’m 5’10" and 175 lbs.
Hey cl, what blank are you using? Typical rockers are about 3 1/2 nose and 1 1/2 at the tail. Depending on the blank you might not want to adjust it much. I’m your size and like them about 2 5/8" thick at the wide point. 1 1/2 " thick at the nose and tail(12 inches up). I’m 56 and don’t know anything about your ability, fitness and all that. Be gentle with the belt sander. Can you borrow an electric planer to skin the blank and cut rail bands? Go with your sanding blocks and block planes to finish the job? Mike
I’m 24 years old and in good shape (I like to lift, so my weight sometimes fluxuates). I’m using a 6’5"A fish blank from US blanks. I’ve been watching videos online about this step and I’m pretty nervous about doing it right. If it is completely recommended I’ll go to home depot and rent an electric planer to do this part of the board. I just figured you could use a belt sander. Any recommendations for references on this part of the process?
If you can get the skin off, you can shape with surform and sandpaper, a little hand plane for the stringer, thats what I do. A cheap harbor freight planer works for getting the skin off, or rent one I guess, never tried it, but why not? You can upgrade tools later, as you go, but that’ll get you started. I have a friend who skins blank with belt sander, but he’s nuts - it can be done, but scares me to think of it, hahaha.
I wouldn’t change rocker unless you have a specific reason to, and then it takes some skill to do it.
Probably around 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches at the thickest point, tapered (foiled) to maybe 1/2" at the very nose and 3/4 " at the tail, just make sure you leave enough meat in the tail for your fin plugs, unless you’re doing glass ons.
Hey cl. I like to drink beer so my weight fluxuates, too. Your gonna have a lot of foam to mow. Buy, rent ,or borrow the planer to get it to thickness. You can do the whole thing with your block planes and and sanding blocks if you want another way to work out. There are also lots of shaping videos on the Net to get an idea. Shaping 101 with John Carper is a good place to start. Best fish shaping advice I ever got was ‘dont overshape it.’ I think it was Herb S. Mike
You want to shape boards? You can shape one w almost anything if you put your mind to it. I’m doing it w stock planer, and so have others.But if you stick with it, you’re eventually going to want a pp with on the fly adjustment.
That said, if you’re strapped on funds any planer will work. But if you want to cut in rocker - which I too don’t recommend, you can do it in steps w stock planer. Then blend in w surform and block sanding.