Me and my Dad want to try to shape board ourselves. We re thinking of a 50/50 egg-railed mini-longboard about 8’0". Does this sound like a good shape to start out on? I wanted to know if anyone had any tips for us so that we will be ready when the time comes. Any help would be great!
-TReilly
ok heres what you do spend a lot of time on here pick up the shaping 101 dvd and look at the “14 dollar blank” thread. as for the sahpe of the board my girlfreind just shaped one just like that its 7’10 heres a pic
I really liked the Master Shaper and Glasser videos. They give you a lot of information to think about.
the master series are slightly more advanced then the 101 series. if you all ready have a pretty good knowledge of surfboard construction you should be fine with the masters series. the masters series is also slightly more expensive. also the 101 series would be so much better if there wasnt surfing in it and john carper was a slightly better speaker.
T,
I shaped my first board with my Dad in 1968. I found a blank at the dump, broght it home and off we went. A couple of trash cans for stands and a Surform and we were in business! In 1968 there weren’t a lot of people around to ask how to do it. It took some time to figure it all out but 30 some years later I look back on thousands of boards shaped and that first one is the most special. All I can tell you is to get started and ask the guys on this board for pointers along the way or search the archives and you’ll find a wealth of knowledge!
Good luck and have fun with your Dad.
C
I Agree, I also found the Shaping 101 video really good for starting out. John Carper has some really good tips in this vid and it will help you to avoid the traps that you may fall into if you just get a blank and mow away.
Cantellya, do you still have that first board or is it gone to the surfing gods? 
God, I wish I had that first board!. I do have a board I shaped in high school. Found it at a garage sale for 20 bucks. Acid splash with my first logo"Natural Awareness". Lots of good memories from those days!! I wish the best to all who make their own boards!
C
how long from the time you sold it till the time that you found it at the garage sale.
almost 30 years!
thats unbelievable. its kind of like that board went full ciricle. it proabably changed a handfull of lives in its years and then went back to you. that must be an amazing feeling.