I got a bug up my a$$ after watching the Dora Challenge on Fuel TV…Anyways, I have a couple VERY beginner questions.
1.) What are the large, wide clamps called that are used to glue the peices of wood together for the blank?
2.) What is a good wood to use that is not too heavy? Balsa? Agave? ???
3.) What is used to glass, or finish the board once the board is completely shaped?
Thanks. I’m not looking for a daily-rider, just a fun project. I’ve shaped about 12 poly boards, but with the lack of blanks, and no real desire to start shaping EPS (yet), I’d like to get something going, and this sounds fun.
1: they are called bar clamps or G-clamps here in Aus
2: Balsa is definately the best timber to use, although it is VERY light weight (about 5th lightest timber in the world) it is actually classed as a hardwood, simply because of its cell structure, it is this cell structure that gives it its strength, so its light weight together with its strength is what makes it ideal for board making. you might also want to put in 1 or more thin stringers, I have used south american cedar, I think you guys call it redwood? it is also a light timber but has a beautiful reddish colour that contrasts nicely with the light colour of the balsa.
3: well there are some who say that epoxy bonds better to timber and there are others that prefer polyester so i’ll let you do your own reasearch and decide for yourself on that one!
Thanks, sounds good…Now off to locate some balsa…The stringers will be no problem (Redwood and/or Basswood). Any local San Diego guys have any good balsa sources?
OUCH…Thanks for the heads-up. Like I said, I’m not in a major rush. I’ll pick up some clamps, glue, etc…, and try and find some balsa. Can I buy it in 8’ lenghts or do I need to glue it up to get to my desired length (7-8.5’)?
Sweet! I’m working on building one. I’m hitting up wood shop, (the bandsaw is my friend), need a rizack for blizanks. I’m in no real hurry to build one, working on my wood skills.
when using the bar clamps, remember to use scrap balsa on the spots where the clamps meet the wood . . . because the clamps will dent the balsa . . . good clamps can be expensive . . . $25 bucks a clamp, and for a 10 footer on the web, I’ve seen up to 10 clamps on one.
There is a temporary balsa shortage . . . a major supplier in South America switched hands and something . . . company related . . . I dunno how long that’s going to last . . . You can also use paulownia . . . its like balsa, weighs little more, harder than balsa. I haven’t find a SD company that paulownia, but I’ve only trotted on the web.
When doing glue ups use elmers wood glue, the yellow kind, it can set pretty quick. Oh yeah, like get your boards and look down them, you’ll see a curve. Then you can use that when cutting out your rocker. Glue them up and clamp them. ANother thing I learned is use a jointer to smooth out the sides being glued together.
There’s a trick you can glue up balsa to a stock plank to get desired thickness and length, but you might see the glue lines. In my case I won’t really care since its my first and I’m building it for the ride.
Bill’s really knowledgeable, he’s given lotsa cool tips. Jim Phillips has helped with alot of wooden board knowledge too. Thanks!
I made some walnut calipers . . . man that is beautiful wood, well Alder is great, but woodshop ninjas kept commenting on it.
Shipman and I are working on making our own EPS blanks and we needed some bar clamps to glue up the stringers. I bought three 36" bar clamps for a total of $17.35 at Harbor Freight. They had a big sale last weekend.
A guy I know makes his own balsa boards and he says to be very careful selecting your wood. He told me to push your thumb into the end of the planks. Stay away from the soft ones. ( I don’t know ,just what I was told)
Have you ridden the step deck? We want a full report with photos for Chipfish61…
Are you talking about the “Zap” glue that is like super glue? We used to use that a lot when I built guitars, but it’s pricey, and it seems like it would take a TON…
Stingray- I’ve ridden the stepdeck a bunch, and it rides aweson, no pics though yet, sorry. Oh, and yeah, the innertube sounds like a great idea.
10over: i used gorrilla glue on mine that i did last summer, it works well, bi of a mess to clean up off hands and stuff, but way strong----i used poplar and red oak and routed it out a LOT! that kept the weight down—mine was 9’ and on the water was like riding a wave on a locomotive----straight lines and fast ! i’m going to do another this summer with eastern red cedar…o, and get LOTS of clamps–the more you use the less force is needed on each area-----have fun and wear a helmet the first time you try it in anykind of wave—you’ll see why…
I am looking at a similiar project, a 6’ Fish. I plan to chamber mine as well, and thats where my question is:
Staggered chambers, yes/no?
I’ve read that you’ve got to vent the chambers or the whole thing can split apart. Other webpages show chambered boards that dont match up and no venting.
There is a little of the procedure with photos and comments in the “Wave Rider Collection” - “Process” in my website that may give you some help: www.mccormickfinewoodworking.com Also, Jim Phillips’ new DVD available through http://damascusproductions.com/ walks you through the steps. Enjoy the ride.
Richard
PS: Most recent balsa board before closing down my shop for the move:
10over: i used gorrilla glue on mine that i did last summer, it works well, bi of a mess to clean up off hands and stuff, but way strong----i used poplar and red oak and routed it out a LOT! that kept the weight down—mine was 9’ and on the water was like riding a wave on a locomotive----straight lines and fast ! i’m going to do another this summer with eastern red cedar…o, and get LOTS of clamps–the more you use the less force is needed on each area-----have fun and wear a helmet the first time you try it in anykind of wave—you’ll see why…
ha I just made a longskate with popular + red oak that I glued up with gorilla glue…
I WOULD get pictures but my friend crashed with the camera when we were skating…
still haven’t got the last 10 seconds of ‘black box’ footage from it yet though.
