I’m just curious, how many different tools do you use to hand shape a surfboard? I’m counting different grits, blocks, planes, home made tools, sticks, and stones…or whatever you use to get your finished product. I looked around today and noticed a billion tools, but realized I didn’t use them all. Wondering if anyone else is in the same boat?
i use 12.
Battent/templet, hand saw, planer, Fred, sanding block, square, block plane, surform, sandpaper, sanding screen. That’s about 10 or 11.
Barry: That sure is a lot calipers. Did you make those your self. If you did can I get one from you? A set of Barry Snyder calipers would be sweet.
I won’t use the same number of tools on a 6’ blank with a 1/8’’ stringer and on a 10’ blank with a wide T-band + side stringers; I won’t use the SAME tools, either.
6’ blank: rocker stick - template - pencil - pencil sharpener - hand-saw - Skil 100 with grit drum - self-made coarse grit rasp - surforms (2) - small block plane - small spokeshaves (2) - 40, 80, 120, 240 sheets of sand paper - wooden sanding blocks (2-3) - foam sanding blocks (2) - tape measure - shaper’s square - aluminum carpenter square - thickness caliper - hard power sander pad with 40 grit and a handle
10’ blank: all previous tools, plus: Rockwell or Accurate power planer, festool jigsaw, small “luthier” planers (flat and convex blades)
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Template
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Variable speed router w/3.5" foam-cutting bit
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Two extended reach vice clamps to hold the template to the blank
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Block plane to rough down stringer
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Clark Hitatchi Planer
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Aluminum square rocker stick
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Thickness calipers
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Greenlight G-Square measuring tool
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Handmade hard-block w/60 grit
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Foam EZ Shaping pad w/40,80,120 grit abrasives
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Small trim plane for stringer
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Small spokeshave for stringer
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Soft foam sanding pad with 60,100
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120 Sanding Screen for rails
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Soft Pencil
This is a great thread as I get ready to start making boards again after Sandy. My planers and sanders survived but most of the rest of my tools soaked in saltwater for 4 days and got tossed.
Sanding screen. I knew I was forgetting something…
Good point balsa, different tools for different jobs. It’s pretty cool to see that so many guys still use rocker sticks too! Did you guys build your own or buy them?
My rocker stick is just straight square aluminum stock. No threaded rod adjusters. I just use it to measure nose and tail rockers. I’m not pro-enough to try to dial in rocker measurements every 6 inches. Maybe someday…
I was struck by lightning when watching this video of Wayne Rich at Sacred Craft: http://vimeo.com/36367041 Look closely at about 1.50 mn. No need to buy sophisticated tools.
Hey Mitch, yes I did make those. I build alot of things during the slower holiday season. Yes I do sell them. Surf Supply/Fiberglass Source also now carries them in Oceanside. I can make you some. Let me know. PM me.
Barry
I use many of those above but I have to include rocker templates, a variac and a hot wire harp.
You guys find me that super charger exhaust chute for the skil 100 planer yet?
** Mitch (Wavecraft Custom Surfboards)**
Yeah Mitch,
I sent you a facebook message the other day. It shouldn’t be long now until the exhaust chute is fabricated. He asked me to check back in with him Thursday, so i’ll let you know. Thanks for your patience on this one.
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About 15…
Tape measure, rocker stick, 12" squre, calipers, template, pencil, hand saw, square-up tool, skil 100, surform, two-sided block (hard/foam), Grits: 40, 60, 80, 100 screen, 120 screen (sometimes), fred (sometimes, depending…), mini block plane, spokeshave, versa-square (shaper’s square).
I might use a coping saw for swallows or other cutaway tail shapes.
planer, saw, sanding block, drywall screen. tape measure, calipers.