I’ve been working on my first traditional foam surfboard. I say traditional because my other three boards have been made out of cardboard and balsa. This board is a 9 foot long board.
I’m going to set the stage by presenting my build and then I’ll show the problem I got myself into while tinting the board. So here goes…
The Design:
I drew templates on craft paper.
Three templates 1) the outer dimension, 2) the first concave, and 3) the inner concave.
That’s a very big dip in the middle of the template. Have you been drinking? Also what needs saving? As for the sandpaper sliding off the foam, try using two sheets of sandpaper back to back and then place the foam on top of them. That way the top most sheet will grip the foam. Even better, spray adhere the two sheets together. Also if you have Aku Shaper and you know how to print templates from it I can send you something that may help with your outlines in the future.
Ready for glass. I’m planning on two layers of 6 ounce on the deck and one on the bottom. I was going to do one layer on the top and a deck patch but decided to go for the extra strength in the rails. The layers will be interleaved. The order is top, bottom, and top.
Next time I would transfer your template to masonite or doorskin and clean up the curve with a sanding block. It’s hard to get a good clean line with a piece of paper. I usually skin the blank and do a lot of the foiling before transfering the template to the blank. I always cut the template out from the bottom, not the deck. Hope that helps although your are wondering about tints. Mike
Any suggestions on how to clean up the leaks. I’m going to put one more full layer of glass over the top deck. I’m thinking there has to be some kind of tape that I can tape over the boarders and leave under the glass.
Any suggestions on how to clean up the leaks. I’m going to put one more full layer of glass over the top deck. I’m thinking there has to be some kind of tape that I can tape over the boarders and leave under the glass.
Thanks!
I don’t think there’s any kind of tape that you could leave under the glass.
Big fat pinlines your best cover-up if you want a clear deck. You COULD do a color inlay, and work the mistakes into the design somehow,
then do the clear wrap over all (giving you a 3-layer deck). Only black will cover black, btw.
Using real tape and pushing it down tight, and taping to foam instead of laminate, might help you to not get ‘‘leaks’’ next time. There’s lots of
how-to’s on here if you search. Make sure you search before you pinline or that won’t come out well either.
File or sand that cut-edge down before you do anything. And definitely work on your outline curve (templating and shaping) a little more next time.
But it looks like you’re having a good time and learning, that’s what counts.