LONGBOARD QUESTIONS

General Discussion
1

Hey guys, my next project is a longboard and i have some questions.

 

1st. I would like to know how many layers of cloth you gyus put for an 8’8’‘-9’ x 22.5’’ x 3’’ longboard?

My idea is :

deck - 2 layers of 6oz and maybe in some areas, eg. the tail an 4oz extra layer.

bottom - 6oz and 4oz and maybe an 4oz extra for the place where i’ll put the fins.

 

2nd. Nose and tail rocker:

My idea is 5’’ nose and around 2-2,5’’ tail rocker.

 

3rd. stringer thickness

0,7 - 1 cm

I’ll use polyurethane foam.

Polyester resin with powder UV catalyst for the lamination and MEKP for the tinted resin, plugs and fin box. 

2

I work with epoxy not pe resin, but your glassing schedule sounds solid to me.  I went a little lighter, but then I notice lately I've got lots of little dents too.

The rocker measurements sound good too, I have a little more in the tail and a little less in the nose, so I guess it works out to about the same  =)

...and to be honest, I think I could have used just a tad more in the nose.

3

8’ 8’’  sounds good.   Re think your rocker idea, however.    Classic natural rocker, for that length, would be 4 inch nose, and 4 inch tail.    Smooth and continuous rocker will produce an excellent riding board for you.     Lots of under 8 foot mini guns have been made with your idea of nose and tail rocker.    Like I said, re think it.

4

I have used the following:   Redwood, Spruce, Western Red Cedar, Basswood, Balsa, and Spanish Cedar.

5

…depends on the foam density, but I put 3 4oz on top and 1 4 oz on bottom for fine flex or 1 6oz in the other cases; sometimes I put 2 x 4oz on the bottom.

6

thank you guys

the point is that i also want to have a strong board, i don’t know how i manage it but my boards are full of dings. The last one i did is a lil bit stronger (6 and 4 oz deck and 4 and 4 oz bottom), it felt few times and no dings on it, i also crashed with another board mine is ok but the other one has a nice ding because of my rail.

have no idea about the density cos i’ll do the blak from a  block of polyurethane because of the low cost of it (60cm wide, 15cm thick and 3,5m long- 25€).

NEW QUESTION ----- what kind of wood u guys use for the stringer.

My idea is to use cedar (if i’ll find it cheap) or maybe pine. The carpenters here in Spain are so damn avaricious… 3 x 3m long, 20 cm wide and 1cm thick + 2 x 2m long, 20 cm wide and 1cm thick 150€ = 194 $. Last board i did has cheap plywood stringer, it was very difficult to shave it with the hand planer “i will never use it again”.

7

The prices for wood seem outrageous. Not sure I interpreted the dimensions correctly, though. I’d steer away from cedar as the oil content can cause adhesion problems. Most modern boards have spruce or basswood, as far as I know. I am certain that spruce is a hell of lot cheaper than cedar, though. Not sure about availability where you are. Your best bet is to find some indigenous lumber at a lumber yard. Don’t buy it from woodworkers.