new and need any information i can gather up

General Discussion
1

I am very new at surfboard shaping and i wanted to see if there was some what of a checklist and how to guide to get things going. for example what supplies do i need to make a board? where can i get a surf board stand to work on it? where is the best place to get blanks from and also I have noticed there is different ‘colored tips’ on blanks meaning the foam is different, could someone explain to me what im looking for in a blank if i wanted to make a 6’6" board would i need to get a bigger blank?

 

Again any information that anyone has readily available would be amazing. thank you again in advance.

2

1- Go to the blank websites. They all describe what the different colors mean.

  1. look at said blank catalog at the blanks around 6’6"  Will your board actually fit in that blank? or do you need to go wider? Longer? etc.

You build a stand

Nobody knows where you are so. Where is the best place to buy blanks? Theres hundreds of places.

READ THE START HERE THREAD.

Then do a bit of searching.  Theres like 22k posts on here for you to Gather up any information you can

Then ask more specific questions.

3

I think the supply houses like foam ez or greenlight or fiberglass supply sell starter kits, and shaping stands (most of us make our own).

where are you located? Might be a supply house nearby or another board builder nearby.

use the search function to look up stuff, like shaping stands and power planer and surform and cut laps and resin tint and etc etc.

welcome!

4

I live in cocoa beach florida. and thank you! i m new to the whole message board this is actually my first so i am sure a lot of my questions are ridiculous.

5

Not ridiculous at all. Just once u get started it will become easier to ask more specific ques, then we know what yr looking for.
Read through past threads on a variety of subjects, to get a feel for the place. You’ll pick it up quick, then making boards can be a lifelong journey, or just a hobby, or whatever u make it.
Btw I’m in calif, but i think there are lots of board builders and supply houses in Florida, so hopefully them guys can steer u right.

6

You Have Shane Smith @ 2si in Melbourne.

Surf Source in JacksonVille

US Blanks in Melbourne

Fiberglass Florida in Rockledge

Theres 1 other I cant think of off the top of my head that does Millennium aside from 2si

7

i got a hold of the usblanks in melbourne thank you again. and i did the search for information on this site that is very helpful. as of right now i have a saw, surform, sand paper and dragon screen. do i absolutely need the calipers? i am still researching i am just putting questions out there that i havent found answers to yet 

8

No calipers needed at this point. Your most valuable tool you have is time. Nice and slow on the first one. Think about the process more than the board. Picture the finished shape in your mind at every step. Its always easier to take foam off than put it back on.

9

okay got it, thank you! one more question for now. once i cut it sand it and smooth it out can i leave it as is or do i have to add a coating on it? if so what is the easiest coating to start with

10

you’re kidding right?

 

11

my apologies i will rephrase the question now that i know. what are the easiest options for it? at least for starting out.

12

 

The easiest options for what?

13

you can make a set of calipers for free. - do a search.

Take about 15 minues to make - They are crude but will atleast get your board close to what you are aiming for -

 

14

 

coating the board once you are all done smoothing it out. example glass or epoxy i believe are two choices?

15

“coating the board once you are all done smoothing it out. example glass or epoxy i believe are two choices?”

 

glass is a fabric that you coat with a resin … epoxy or poly resin… this makes the hard outer skin of the surfboard… maybe youtube some surfboard building clips?

16

 

thank you… 

17

There are a few videos on utube that go over how to build a surfboard. a few aew ok and will give you a start point as to what you will been.  

18

I’ve just said this on another thread but 101 shaping by John carper is the best video I could find and explains in great detail. Here’s my home made stand I used some scrap wood and an old railway sleeper :slight_smile: good luck.

https://swaylocks7stage.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/20140706_144120.jpg(image larger than 8 MB)

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i just made a bench yesterday i was told to add shag carpet to it?

640×640 109 KB

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If i were you, i’d take a sander and round over those inside corners at the top of the “U” on each side.

Also, the egg crate foam that they use for mattress toppers works great. It will grip the blank and keep it from moving around better than carpet.