Clark Foam close tolerance blank?
Clark really doesn’t make a close tolerance blank over 11’3" and that one isn’t exactly close tolerance unless you want a pretty thick board. The next longest is the 12’3" - a beast of a blank to shape.
Walker offers “stock” computerized preshapes but they have limited blank lengths… last I checked their longest is 10’8"(?)
Looks like you’d better sharpen those blades and start carving. Or if sanity prevails, check out a Munoz 12’ Surftech.
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There is also software that can create shapes and modify them. They can be tweeked and then uploaded to the CNC machine to cut the blank.
Somebody, or many people, out there have access to these shapes. I’d like to get a nice shape and size it up to really big cruiser, then have it cut on the machine.
Now I would just like to have a good, really big board to goof around on, not have to spend $700 plus for something I won’t use often, and maybe learn a little more about board building.
Does anybody know the name of a CNC boardshaping company in Southern Cal.?
Contact Wayne Okamoto from Oak Foils Surfboards. Located in the South Bay. I think his machines shape boards for Bing, Jacobs, Rick, Con etc. Not sure what size you are looking to have machined, but I believe that particular machine is one of the only machine that will cut 2 boards upto 12’ long. Not sure if it’s worth it, but it will be costly. Digitizing cost starts at around $200. He can scale to any size upto 12’ in length. I have seen an 18’ paddle boards shaped in two 9’ pieces that have been spliced together.
Resin,
That’s absolutely cool of you to offer. Sounds like the right board. The thing is, I’m not ready to jump into full-on shaping yet. I’m still hoping to find this magic connection where I can get most of the shape pre-cut.
I’m working on a couple of leads. Some of which I got here. Thanks guys. I had a couple conversations, left a couple messages. If any of them pan out, I’ll let you all know.
Ryan
HI folks, new to the board.
Ryan, if you want to email me I can give you a few names of people in the LA/OC area. My good friend develops & sells one of the systems on the market now which includes the software & machine. The only thing being that you may end up having to get the board from whoever it is that has the machine. Which I think is your best bet. Alternately, you can buy the software only, do your own designs & find one of these guys that will cut the file on their machine. I think the biggest problem will be finding a machine that will cut an 11’6" board. I’ll check with my friend to see who has a long enough machine. Also, realize that you can’t necessarily just design & cut. You have to get the correct blank for what you want then adjust the rocker accordingly among other things. Rockers alone may take several trial runs to get right. Ruining a few blanks in the process.
Lance
p.s., You’ll hit my spamblocker. Put “CNC” in the subject or something like that so I know to look at it. Just ask for permission when it bounces back & I’ll reply.
All,
I told you guys I’d update you on what I find. So far the closest thing I’ve found is Walker Foam. Joe over there is very cool and helpful. They have a CNC machine and will cut their blanks for you. They have a couple stock shapes and they can scan one or your boards and reproduce it for you.
Unfortunately, they max out at 10’8". I’m trying to make something about 11’6" so they couldn’t do it for me. Joe was very helpful though and gave me some leads on people that can handle larger boards. I’ll look into those and let you know what happens.
Ryan
All,
Well, the verdict is in. Those of you who said it was a pipedream and I should just mow foam were right. I’ve tracked down and spoke with about 5 shops with CNC machines, spoke to two blank suppliers and came up short.
Basically it boiled down to three obsticles.
-
Their machine can’t handle a board the size I want to make so that’s a non-starter.
-
They don’t do one-offs so they’re out of my league.
-
They don’t have any programmed shapes that they can use for me because all the programs are the intellectual property of some shaper. I understand that. They shaped it, they own it.
Now I’m down to three options.
-
Start shaping. I’m not a shaper but I might have to try.
-
Bight the bullet and pay the price for a finished board. More than I wanted to do because it’s just a goof around board.
-
Find some shaper with will shape a blank for me that I can finish. That’s still going to cost some bucks.
I’m going back to the drawing board to rethink this project.
Thanks to all those who provided advice.
What if you went back to Walker and ordered two blanks. Spec both at the same width (parallel rails) and thickness, both at their max. length.
When you get them, you cut 1 foot plus out of the middle of one and add it to the middle of the other. You end up with a 9’6" and an 11’6", sell the 9’6" on craigslist and get your money back. Anyone who can handle a computer can handle a saw and some glue…
This the final word in my search to find someone to preshape a blank for an 11’6".
No dice. The size is too big for most machines. The people with machinces big enough to handle it aren’t interested.
There is hope for anyone wanting to make a board under 10’6". There are a few shops with machines that will reproduce your boards and Walker Foam has some basic shapes that they will precut. I think they have the ability to tweek those shapes also.
I’m out.
well. if you want the board shaped, or mostly shaped anyway, so you can finish it off, i don’t know why you wouldn’t just buy the blank and offer up 100 - 200 cash money for an experienced shaper to skin, template and shape it to the stage where you’d feel comfortable taking over. sounds a lot easier and more cost effective in the long run, especially as you’ve not gotten good feedback from the cnc folks.
as a starter, you could probably ask on here if there is a pro or semi pro shaper in your area who would do this.
Peter,
Yah, I’m thinking about going that way. Once you get in to this size things get a little pricey. It turns out the blank it’s self with basic stringer is around $170. Maybe $100 for the shaper. Another, what, $150 for materials including fin. Now I’m at $420. I got a quote from a lesser known shaper for the complete board at $650.
I’m new to this so my original plan was estimated incorrectly at something like, $100 for the blank including a stringer upgrade, $50 for the CNC, and $150 for materials, which puts me around $300. Not bad if I could’ve pulled it off.
Still working on the plan. I’ll just be riding the beater when I want a big fat log to goof around on. No harm. I still got my regular 9’0" that’s sweet.
The swell’s here. I’ll see you guys tomorrow at the first lot south of the entrance at Bolsa Chica.
HDX has CNC with 12 foot capability, on screen design, (no scanning necessary). They make EPS and XPS blanks. They are about a 7 minute drive from Bolsa Chica. 714 379-5533 “Seek and ye shall find.”
I didnt read any of this thread,
ryan dont be a punk
handshape the board
It will be the best board in the history of mankind
just like everyone else’s 1st board
you will catch the most inspired wave of your life
if you get a machine to shape the poking thing
it will NOT BE YOUR FIRST BOARD.
It will be the INKYPOO"S UMPTEENTEEH POPOFF
…ambrose…
as with the distinction between church and secular
leave us make the distinction
between shaping and manufacturing
hear the music or hear the machine
ambrose,
Interesting. You didn’t read the thread, but I’m on the verge of being a punk. Thanks for the insult.
I admit, I did like the poetry/philosophy a little.
So, your advice is that I should shape an 11-6 for my first board?
As it turns out, I may be doing just that. But to you won’t be happy. I’m making it in design software.
Philosophically, this is where the music and the machine meet. I understand shape but lack the equipment and skill to do it manually. So, I will imagine it in a computer and I will have my shape for better or worse. My vision will be precisely cut by machine. I will have no excuse. Once glassed and in the water it will work or it won’t. So, the board will be of my own imagining.
After all, once the shaper has acquired the skill, don’t those skills really just serve to move his ideas onto the foam? I have no intention of becoming a shaper. There are plenty of them struggling as it is, and I already have a career.
i read the title
i had to philosophicly log in
to support tactile participation with the open hand.
The maturation of the sedentary shaper who doesnt walk the requisite mile
must be taken to task for claiming an equal “i did it myself”
goading yall into stand up shaping by invoking the P word
was far more effective in the fifties when it wasn’t an icon
maybe I should have said be a punk,hand shape your first phallus symbol
like a maturing man.
but you should do what your life has set before you
and glean from it what you will
and be assured there will be somthing missing.
…ambrose…
not an attack on the person
just an attack on the division of crafts
and calling for an alternate
Identity
skate boarding was once sidewalk surfing
shapin an 11’6 is a formidable challenge
big challenges when confronted reap bigger satisfactions
I believe you would be well served facing the big challenge
of hand shaping your first 11’6 and it would flavor your
design awareness much like an architect building a house
by hand.
a chance for an entirely different carpal tunnel complaint
Um… I like it.
Somehow I feel like I should reply with Groovy.
I won’t even try to wax poetic in reply.
I’ll just was my board.
And surf.
Give Todd Proctor (Ventura, CA) a call 805-658-7659. He has a machine and he lists his cutting fees on his web site http:www.proctorsurf.com/
hey ryan
what makes you think the other aspects of board making are any easier than rough shaping?
Channin Precision Shaping has a machine with 13 foot abilty, they cut Bruce Jones 11’6" and 12 footers on it. But no out the door programs for the public.
The price of the blank is a lot higher than you may think closer to $200 and I charge $250.00 for boards of this size. Why? there is a lot of foam to keep organized and not torture. Secondly, I know what I’m doing, so that 650.00 price sounds like the proverbial pig in a poke. You get what you pay for or you don’t get what you pay for?
Greg Hunt of Hunt Customs, why did you come to me for your 11 footer?