I've shaped a couple a boards with a local professional shaper. I just built my own shaping room in my backyard and i need a tools list. I know i need a planer,sander,router,sandpaper, but what is the best bang for my buck? im on a low budget (like a harbor frieght budget hahhah) anyways anything can help thanks
saylboat
Small hand plane for stringers and a small spokeshave. Make your own calipers. Sanding pads made out of egg crate foam from wally mart. You can use the rest of your egg crate foam for padding shaping racks. Surf form (I actually like the one from HF...its even better once you replace the blade). Carpenter's square (HF is great for measuring devices). By the way HF sells the exact same tool for measuring fin cant as the surfboard supplies shops only its half the money.
Make yourself one of these.
http://www.quivermag.com/boards/pauljensen-2002
By the way, don't scrimp on the sandpaper or masking tape. Only 3m for me. I made that mistake before and the harbor freight sandpaper is garbage and will break your heart.
Don’t tackle sanding without a good pad…I’ve only glassed a couple boards and the med flexpad is a good all around choice if you could only buy one. Combined with a budget variable 6 speed grinder… Your on your way! I would love the Milwaukee grinder but can’t afford it.
Do you really have to have a planer in order to make a board right, or is it just for time consumption?
you want a planer, saves time and you may aswell start getting used to them. I bought most of my tools from second hand shops, they where cheaper and better quality.
Check out Surf Source, foam EZ , green light and other board building supply companies. They have list of tools, See what you can find from their list and buy what you can from other places like Harbor Fright.
Check out Surf Source, foam EZ , green light and other board building supply companies. They have list of tools, See what you can find from their list and buy what you can from other places like Harbor Fright.
Best advice I can give you is to hand sand the whole board it will force you to develop your fiber glassing skills and technique.
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Check out Surf Source, foam EZ , green light and other board building supply companies. They have list of tools, See what you can find from their list and buy what you can from other places like Harbor Fright.
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You will find many of the tools on those sites at your local HF. .
I've been pretty happy with the $34 HF sander. Soft and medium sanding pads are a must for the sander.
I also paid $40 for a Hitachi planer on eBay that is adequate with a little tinkering. I use it as a backup but would be quite happy using it if I didn't have a skil.
A) http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-electronic-polisher-66615.html
B) http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html
WHICH ONE?
waaaw that one is very good, there’s a very explicit picture that u can also polish or sand ur dog. i have to buy one.
the small planner for the stringer is so damn important (maybe i’m the only person who thinks that) and a good sander is also important. for my first board i didn’t use the electic planer just the surform, actually the first one it was a blind build, didn’t know anything about shaping or glassing (just watched bunch of videos).
I started shaping when I was your age. The guys I learned from went from low tech to high tech (at the time). They taught me you can't mess with quality tools. I don't know how many boards you are planning to shape and if this is just a phase of your surfing, or if you will stick with it. If I knew you and your situation, I would probably recommend the following: HF makes a decent electric planer for a few boards. Their sander/polisher is not to bad either. After your 10th board, you may want to upgrade. You need a basic set of hand tools which are not expensive and some are home-made. Stay away from egg-crate foam, it really doesn't work well. Get cushion foam from an old couch, chair, etc. and cut to size. You can find this type of foam at JoAnnes or a similar store. (I am expecting you to be in the US) Note the different screen grits in the pics I have attached. Your measurement tools are really important. Make sure you have an accurate tape measure. Terry Martin uses one that was made back in the 30's. LOL A right angle square is important too. I use an aluminum one from the garment industry which has doubling features on one side and won't ding the blank if you drop it but a cheap steel one from HF will do. A 8' piece of aluminum bar stock from Home Depot will help you check the straightness of the stringers. You need a good level. (level your racks, side to side, front to back, level to measure rocker, etc...) If you are doing longboards, you need the larger hand plane, otherwise, the short bed will work ok for anything under 8'. You don't need a $40 brass violin plane. A good spokeshave, large & small, will get the stringers down ok. (This is before you buy an air compressor, right angle die grinder, etc...) First few boards will have noses that are too thick. Live with it. Learn from your mistakes. Don't scrimp on safety gear. Get good masks. You don't want to die of some bizzare cancer at 50. You will need a saw or two. Find something that works for you and make it your own. Again, Terry Martin uses the same saw he used back in the 60's..... (The godfather of unknown shapers) The money tool that you need costs the least. This is a single or series of sanding blocks. These should be out of wood, stabilized plywood is the best. (I use cabinet grade). Use your level to make sure they are flat. A series of quality sandpaper sheets are what you need to go along with each block. I use a full sheet block and a double sheet block (for longboards). Once a sheet is broken in, they are money. One of the keys to magic boards is having a flat bottom to start. When you start working with EPS (and if you do more than 20 boards, you will) you will appreciate what a wood block with sandpaper can do. Long strokes with a locked elbow. Same number on each side. This will take out any highs in your cuts. Surforms are good tools in spite of what some people might say. I know lots (and I mean guys with 10,000 shapes for real) of guys with these tools on their racks. If you need a simple care package and are in the US, pm me your address. I still remember my first 6'8 downrailer......
greenlight's g-rasp is the nicest toll I've purchased in awhile. It takes down the foam pretty quick for a handtool. I've used it instead of a planer or sander on the last 6 I've done.
just done a epoxy with a surform and sandpaper and a pencil, ruler and a few razor blades. can get anymore simple
soeazysaylor, I hope you got back to surfteach because a guy that cares enough to help out a beginner (like he did) is beyond cool. Props to you surfteach.
Your 17, buy what you can and make your first surfboard. If it is like my first one it will be magic and it will also be a dog. But the most important thing you will figure out is if it is in your blood to build boards. You won’t look back at your sureform or HF planer like it was a waste of money, it will just be a part of the evolution.
Steve
Although it may seem like a big expense, I feel getting a good planer at the start will be to your advantage shaping wise and to your wallet. If you were to get a cheaper model, chances are you will outgrow it and desire a better planer. This happened to me and I wished I had just gotten the modified Hitachi first. The money saved could be used to purchase a blank or other tools.
if you're doing mainly eps, buy a variable speed 8" sander polisher. You can shape and sand fiberglass with the same tool.
You gotta hit the flea markets and farm auctions, all the used tool and pawn shops, I’ve gathered enought used tools from these places to outfit a half dozen shapers.
Got 2-# 53 Stanley spoke shaves from the late 1800’s, worth $185 each, a barely used Hitachi planer, plunge routers, 25 pounds of freshly sharpened 1/2" router bits, solid carbide, sand paper, model makers block planes, brass violin makers planes, scorps, bar and pipe clamps, c-clamps, deep throat clamps, several skil saws, use em’ til they die, then buy another used one
