About to start a new board. Using 7’ 10" X-tra foam blank to make a 7’ 4" ‘mini-mal’.
Problem is that there is too much rocker at BOTH ends.
Question is how to reduce it.
I assume that I cut in middle but do i start with long pass from say a foot from nose to a foot from tail then shorter and shorter OR start with short pass say a couple of feet long then get longer and longer?
Can anyone help?
First off, how much rocker, is too much? How thick is the blank? And, what finished thickness are you shooting for?
Blank is 3.25" thick and am aiming at 2.5" finished.
Nose rocker is 5" want less.
Tail is 3+" want less.
It is an odd blank. Wide nose with all that rocker and narrower than expected tail with rocker accelerating off the tail from about the 18" mark.
I realise ‘less’ doesn’t help much but I would like to reduce as much as practicable.
Thanks
I’d cut 4 inches off the nose of the blank, and 2 inches off the tail, to establish the board length. Given the blank thickness, your plan to further reduce the rocker, should be no problem. Just be careful, and plan your cuts. Measure frequently! It’s easier to take foam off, than it is to put it back on.
Pete, a significant rocker change, and the refoiling which will also be needed, is something that is a big job for even seasoned shapers. You’re on the right track with the stagger cuts on the bottom. It doesn’t matter what order you do them, but saving the long cuts to last will probably yield a cleaner result if you don’t have a lot of experience.
Then you’ll have to tackle the deckside, the nose and tail will be proportionally thicker than the blank you started with. It’ll be the reverse of bottom cuts, you’ll be staying away from the center and working on the ends. It will definitely help to visualize your desired yield against the starting point of the blank and see how that profile “fits” into the blank. As I said, it’s a big job. Much easier to start with a blank that is closer to what you want.
But it can be done and you will learn a lot about using your planer in the process.
you can also cut back the foam glue-up along stringer, bend it and reglue.
This is for more drastic rocker adjustments that can be shaped in or adjusted by templating.
Warning: This method comes with cosmetic challenges.
Thrailkill, thanks for reply. I always read your comments on other threads. I thought of moving the template around the blank as you suggest but the rocker seems to be so concentrated at the ends of the blank i thought it would be better to centre it, ie. 3" of each end. Will go back and have another look though.
Mike, again thanks for reply. Again i always take note of your posts on threads wich i find really helpfull. I do realise the amount of work i am taking on but have to admit i made a mistake on blank choice. I usually use US blanks and wanted to use the 7’9"H ? but supplier had none so went with the x-tra foam one. Should have realised the rocker profile was totally wrong. To be honest the tail shape is too narrow also but i live on a tiny island and have to order in over internet. Not the same as seeing in person!!!
Will do as you suggest then and start with short changes to centre of blank and gradually move out to ends.
Fingers crossed!!!
I also got a fish blank from X-tra foam which looks good so not a total disaster.
maka, I had thought of splitting blank and re-glueing but never done it and don’t trust myself. Better to work with what i have got and compromise i think. After all my design ideas are not what the blank really allows for. My fault !!!
Back when Clark stopped blowing foam, lots of us small time guys were scrambling for blanks and had to use what was available. Cutting rocker from the middle of a too thick, too rockered blank was the way to go. Here’s my only tip in addition to what has already been written. Make sure that your passes are shallow and are heavily angled in regards to the stringer. The last thing you want is for the stringer to blow up and create a mess when you are close to your required thickness!! (I know from experience, LOL!). Go really slow and make sure that you are following your adjusted rocker with your cross-passes. Keep remarking your center point as you go so you take center material off first and then work out to the nose & tail. I hope you are using a rocker stick? Just my 2c…
Surfteach, just seen your post (live in uk)
Yes i do use a rocker stick (long piece of metal!! ) and are you suggesting i should cut across the blank not length wise?
I have always been too scared to try.
These help train you and your planer.
Wow that is some bit of kit. Puts my long stick and ruler to shame !!!
Folk’s - I just thought of a good option ! Why not shape something shorter? He should get about four or so nose rocker, and maybe two + in tail rocker… just a thought. But would that work for him?
Keep the length. Place a full length concave, deepest in the middle and shallow towards nose and tail. Consider reverse VEE in tail. Don’t be afraid to glue on some high density foam on the last third of the board prior to starting. what type of foam is X-TRA?