Got a board and have had only a few days on it and it already has a few hairline cracks in the tail, I don’t think it’s letting any water in but really bummed they’re there in such a new board, any tips on why this is happening and how I could fix it?
Looks like a brittle resin (poly), maybe a light glass job to keep weight down, and impact from hitting something maybe during a wipeout or moving it around.
Those kinda cracks usually don’t let water in unless they’re near the stringer where you stand. But it wouldn’t hurt to be safe and sand it and put some fresh resin on or maybe even a patch of 4oz over it.
I have heard of guys filling those cracks using something like MEK or acetone, I don’t remember, but I’m sure its in the archives. (edit to add: its styrene. Check this thread, but there are others.)
I don’t use poly resin and you don’t generally get that with epoxy, so I don’t see that on my boards, but I have tried making those disappear on board repairs or renovations and never succeeded.
Spider web on tail of a poly classic fish, it’s common. How is your leash rail saver ?
Awright, sand off the Solarsmeg, It’s a product I detest, not least because it won’t penetrate.
Carefully, lightly sand barely into your gloss/hotcoat, not into the lamination. Just sandpaper with just your hand. No blocks, no power sander. The cracks don’t necessarily come to the surface but you want to fill them to make them go away. Get all the dust off.
Then, use thinned* sanding resin, brushed in carefully with a chip brush. It will penetrate the cracks and make them invisible. As this is thinned and a very thin coat, use more catalyst than you normally would.
Then, lightly sand, clean off the dust and brush on some gloss. Polish, done.
*thin your resin with either acetone or, ideally, styrene monomer. Neither is good for you. Use good ventilation, ideally an organic vapor mask and keep it off your skin.
What caused this? No idea. Your leash strap, as mentioned, could be the culprit or just bumping it into stuff. Padded board bags are your friend.
hope that’s of use
doc…
Yeah the styrene gig as described by the doctor is the way to go. The styrene(imho), penetrates/soaks into the cracks helping the Poly resin to also penetrate. Styrene also helps to cosmetically make the cracks either go away altogether or at least be less visible. You have to make a determination as to whether or not resin is enough. Sometimes a layer of 4oz. is needed to absolutely insure waterproof.
Agree, the 4 oz or 6 oz if that’s what you have is a good way to go.
After all, it cracked, a little more strength is a good idea. Not just where it cracked, by the way, both sides. The other side is just waiting for its chance.
hope that’s of use
doc…
Hairline cracks in the tail of your new board can be a bummer, especially if they appear after only a few short sessions. These types of cracks usually form from pressure or impact, like hitting the tail on hard surfaces, dragging it, or stomping turn-to-turn. Smaller dings can begin to spider as well, especially in thinner glass jobs or lighter boards. If the Solarez is already on and dry, that is good, it will keep the water out, but it you should monitor the area to make sure the cracks don’t expand or develop into deeper cracks. In the future, make sure to put a tail pad on (if you don’t already) and to avoid resting or dropping your board tail-first on hard ground since those are the most common reasons why cracks like this develop. If the cracks spread or develop a mushy appeal, you’ll be looking at making a more permanent repair.
