Since I am occasionally referred to as what is known as an “itinerant” shaper and never seem to be abreast of the latest goings on in any one locale, I lay this simple question before the wise ones here at “Sways”. How many boards does a good, average or not so average shaper shape in one day in a production setting. I should qualify my question by stating a few parameters. Let’s say longboards over 9’0 that are done from scratch. From rough out to signing the stringer. No pre-milled blanks, no assistant in the pit roughing and templating. One shaper, a planer and a 9’4 B or longer. I am of course curious as to how many shortboards a guy can turn out from scratch as well and would welcome replys dealing with production #'s for those. So what it is one, two, five or ten?
Two to three as far as I’m concerned. Two seems to be my average on a shaping day. (I do everything myself including glass, sand, gloss, wet-sand, polish, so I have “shaping days”, “glassing days”, “sanding days” and so forth. Or I mix different activities in the same day of work if I feel I’m getting bored doing only one thing. Of course, shortboards are a completely different thing: I can usually have one made from templating to signing within one hour or so. Longboards (especially 3-stringered ones) take up much more time.
Let me start off by saying that the guys who taught me how to do this also
taught me to take the time to do the job right. So I’m no speed merchant.
And you can’t shape non-stop all day. You have to take breaks, eat, take out
the trash, fix tools, post on sways, talk to customers, and so on…
So averaging it out over the years, I’ve found that I spend at about 2 hours at
work for each shape. A normal day currently is 2-4 shortboards, all the way from
template to signing. The actual labor takes about one hour, as follows:
template and true: 10 min
rough out(all planer) 20 min
fine shape 25 min
mark fins, sign, inspect 5 min
long board labor would be 1 1/2 hr, add lots more for extra stringers.
a T-band with offsets can be 2 1/2-3 hr for me.
My “records” - nine (shorties) in one 14 hr day
- 240 handshapes in 8 weeks
And they’ve all been fun…
Time to go do today’s,
Mike
Mike --That’s a lot of boards and a very long day. My shoulder would be aching. I was curious mostly because when I am here on the Mainland I borrow shaping rooms and always try to do as many as I can while I have the room. So I try to set realistic goals. I did two longboards from scratch in about six hours. I would have started a third one but didn’t want to over stay my free use of the room. It looks like I’m not too far off. I would probably do 2-4 shorboards as well. Thanks for the reply. Lowel
Balsa-------- Thanks for the reply. When I had my one man shop I did the same routine. Helps break up the shoulder aching monotony. Lowel
Watch out for those sore shoulders! I had surgery(scoped) on mine in '92
after a few of years trying to see how many I could do…
All is well since, because I take care of it now and don’t work 14 hr days.
Mike
Greg Sauritch used to tell me that he does em’ in 20 minutes start to finish. Of course thoes of you who know Greg also know that he can have a conversation forever… so maybe he was’nt turning one out every 20 minutes. Nicest guy! Always looked forward to ordering a board from him. Machado should have stuck with him. Sack Lunch…lol!
Hi Mcding
Blank = 9’4B? Then between 1 ½ to 2 hours out the door and in the rack. If you have to putts around with outlines doing one offs then 2 hours, if doing basically the same board over and over… production shaping… then 1 ½ hours.
I don’t like working more than 6 hours a day so 3 full shapes pau. Also I would outline 3, then mow the 3, then finish shape. More easy to stay focused that way, at least for me.
D.R.
BTW, there are only 2 times when a good shaper is in a rush… when he’s making a mistake and when he’s fixing one.
Sorry, O.T. for a second.
Dennis, I have to give you props for shapes you’re putting out there. Last weekend I saw the boards you loaned to the Reilly Family (Dan, Matt & Travis) Very sweet! You should have seen Travis on the 10’ with the cool deck patch. That kid is incredibly talented.
Back on topic: Granted, I’m not a production shaper so this may not apply but, I recently finished a Walker 9’6" in two hours flat. And it’s my cleanest shape yet. Hopefully glass it tomorrow.
Hey Dennis thanks for the info. Since I have heard of you and seen your shapes since the Front st. days I will use your production as a standard. I’m not too far off now. I sent a friend of mine down to Ventura Surf the other day and told him to go in there and check out your boards. They said they were all out. That was about two weeks ago. He was especially interested in your retro stuff. Hulls and that Mactavish looking "V’. I really liked the hull. You know Dennis that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Lowel.
Thanks guys for the compliments. And what’s up with VSS being out of stock…. Check with Scott at Foam Fins and Fiberglass, he’s got some of my boards now too.
You probably know this but it’s worth saying anyway… getting your time down is not about working faster, like running instead of walking, but streamlining your routine.
It’s a time and motion thing…
An example would be setting a sanding block down in a different place every time and having to look for it when ever you need to use it again. If it takes you 30 seconds to find that sanding block multiplied over every tool you reach for you are not only wasting time but losing focus. Always arrange your work space so everything has a place and can be reached without thought.
Also, always follow the same sequence of tasks when working on a board….in other words, develop a routine. Having a routine helps you realize all the redundant moves you make that can be eliminated. There by shortening your time as well as dialing in your focus.
Shaping surfboards is not an easy job. It’s hard work, physically and mentally demanding at the same time. Thinking though the process can help lessen the physical demands and mental fatigue, that’s a good thing. And, the end result is better.
D.R.