Is there a standard for making handguns? (bodysurfing, of course) And what materials?

General Discussion
1

Forgive me if this topic was previously discussed, but I am interested in doing some bodysurfing, and I remember as a teenager making some crude handguns in woodshop that made a huge difference in the ability to plane.

So, my question is: Are there set dimensions for a handgun. By set dimensions I mean a set of basic guidelines about what makes a handgun effective.

Also, what do people use? I used to use plywood and resin without cloth, but I know that’s lame. What about Balsa? Foam?

Plus, bottom contours? Flat? Concave? V?

I’m thinking of starting one this weekend and my first choice is balsa. And on that note, anybody in North County willing to let me raid your dumpster for balsa scraps?

Thanks

2

Yahoo has a very active Bodysurfing group

that includes the top guys in the sport.

Try it!

3

I couldn’t find the bodysurfing groups.

4

Hey Mike

Here’s a starting point

http://www.surfresearch.com.au/00000205.html

We used to make them at school out of perspex and a couple of big elastic bands. We would use acetone to weld a tiny flatish fin to the bottom.

cheers

Hicksy

5

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6

Standard? Well there are rules for Red Wings competition: any wave riding device, made of any materials, worn on the hand(s), is less than 16 inches (41 cm) long, and is without skegs or fins.

If you normally prefer to fart in the general direction of the rulemakers, then you might want to make your handboard a little longer, and play around with fins…

http://www.thehandboardcompany.com/history.htm

7

Those handboards look really cool. I’m going to make one this weekend for sure. Now I have some great ideas.

I still remember taking a rectangular piece of wood about a foot long and eight inches wide, sanding the edges, and then doing it again for my brother. We walked to Moonlight Beach, three miles, all the time him asking why we were bringing these boards. I told him to trust me.

It worked. The boards were a hit. We loved them, and even enjoyed when they got loose and clobbered a few tourists. Whatablast.

I’m still planning to go with balsa. I might also try foam.

I’ll post the pics.

8

http://access1.com/finpeople/bob.htm

http://access1.com/finpeople/WaveBladecloseup.html

http://www.access1.com/finpeople/Schematics.htm

9

And then there’s the Italian T-Board

http://www.everwave.biz/TBbestchoice.htm

10

Here’s an idea…a two-handed balsa handboard that has two widely-spaced stringers of a harder wood. The stringers protrude from the bottom of the board like foiled runners.

11

Man, you guys are cool. I love Swaylocks.

I don’t plan on buying one, but the different websites have given me some great ideas.

What I like is the Handboad Company’s product, but it doesn’t have a handle. You wrap your hands around the nose, similar to a bodyboard.

On the other hand, I like the T-Board because it has a handle, keeping your hands out of the water so that your board can plane better, but I don’t care for the plastic T-Board.

Have any ideas about placing a handle on a balsa board?

12

my son and his friends use fast food trays to good effect "you didn’t steal that did you son?- I’ll poke around and see if there are any photos of them whomping with 'em. have fun!

13

Poobah. You are totally on to something there. I love that idea, only it would be really cool if the twin fins are blended.

I can’t wait.

I tried to score some free balsa today. No luck. I guess I will have to, darnit, buy it like everyone else. :wink:

I might just hit up homedepot or the craft store. I’m in no mood to spend days searching for cheap balsa. I’ll just run out tonight and grab some.

Now I’m wondering what kind of glue to use. I’ll post that question on a different thread.

Thanks everyone. This is cool. I’m starting tonight! I can’t wait to use it.

14
Quote:

…On the other hand, I like the T-Board because it has a handle, keeping your hands out of the water so that your board can plane better, but I don’t care for the plastic T-Board.

The handle doesn’t have to be rod-shaped like a towel bar. It could be a flat crescent, like on this old Hansen

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22710&item=3681236128&rd=1

And here’s an old patent of something similar

http://www.larryobrien.com/rothstein.pdf

15

I used to use food trays from Jack in the Box. They actually worked better than any handgun ive ever tried.

16

I tried using a Jack in the Box food tray for body surfing, but the french fries kept getting soggy.

17

Frisbees work good too!

18

I started making it today. I took ten strips of balsa that are four inches wide and about a sixteenth thick by three feet long.

First, I cut the boards in half so that they are 18 inches long by 4 inches by sixteenth thick.

Then, I laid two of the 4 inch boards side by side and then cut one lengthwise so that it was two inches wide. Then, as I lay the layers on top of each other, with glue of course, I stagger the boards so that they overlap, adding strength. The final piece is a rectangle that is 18 inches long by 10 inches wide by a half inch thick.

Then, when the glue was still wet, I laid it upon the underside of longboard’s nose to add rocker and used packing tape, along with coolers full of water, to clamp it down. I didn’t know if that would work, but it did. So, the handgun has about 3/4 inch rocker to it, maybe an inch.

Next, I drew out the basic outline (still working on it, actually) and I’ll cut it tonight.

I also made two fins, retro, that are about three and a half inches long by about two and a half inches deep.

So, I’ll carve out the outline tonight, carve out some finboxes with an exacto knife, glue the fins into the boxes, sand the rails, etc., make a laminate on the computer, and glass it this weekend. I am documenting the entire process for comedic purposes with a digital camera. I can’t believe How easy it has been. Of course, if it falls apart, I’ll know why.

I can’t wait to get back into bodysurfing. I never enjoyed it enough to do it without a planing device, but this should be fun.

I’ll keep you posted.

19

Yeah, I went for a Body Bash today cause the waves got really shithouse and totally unridable (sydney must be showing its real form) I’m gonna make a handsurf in the morning, I’ll make them the same way as the paipos i make… I use Chipboard…

…thats right chipboard! people say this stuff get crappy once it touches water but i put veener over it and it works fine!

Im gonna make a shape like the one on http://www.surfresearch.com.au/00000205.html only abit wider an longer(just abit)

And then going to make a tight strap so it stays on my hand. Sortof like tow in foot straps.

The reason im making a handsurf is because its easy just to shove it in your board bag (aswellasyoursurfboard) so if the waves are unridable they become well…Ridable.

Have fun shaping fairmont!

Josh.