I’ve shaped a few miniSimmons and a couple short boards, but I’ve just used
off-the-shelf blanks so far. I’d like to add some flip to the nose on
the next shortboard. I know it’s possible to order a blank with increased nose rocker, but will this allow the finished shape to have more flip in the nose? I’ve tried every combination of the words nose, flip, and rocker but haven’t found any answers. Any help is really appreciated. Thank you!
US Blanks and other blank makers are usually happy to alter their 'stock' (natural) rockers. When you order the blank from your retailer like Mitch's, Foam EZ, or Basham's just ask for a "+1" (or whatever) and specify where you'd like the rocker boost to vary from stock... (I.E. 6" back from tip/"tip flip" or whatever) - they'll know what to do. Yes, it can you more flip in the nose.
Keep in mind that most shortboard blanks have decent enough natural rocker and some thickness at the ends. You can often just shape the extra flip as you selectively reduce thickness from the bottom.
dub...to order a blank with nose rocker different than "Natural" (the most common rocker offered for a given blank) use the format "+/-x"NRy" where x is the amount of rocker in inches to be added(+) or subtracted(-), "NR"=Nose Rocker and y is the start point or distance in inches from the nose that the alteration should start.
Example:
+3/4"NR18" means increase the nose rocker from "natural" by 3/4" starting at 18 inches from nose, or
-1/2"NR36" means decrease nose rocker from "natural" by 1/2" starting at 36 inches from nose.
Unless start point is specified, adjustment is made from the center.
USBlanks offers a catalog of established or "public" rockers for each blank in their catalog. Download it from their website.
Remember that you need to consider where you will be trimming each end of the blank for length and how much thickness you'll have at each end after trimming and skinning blank when asessing how much the rocker needs to be adjusted. "You need to see the shape in the blank..."
Like most backyarders I have random stuff stacked over here and over there. I am lacking on record keeping when it comes to rocker.... My late night overviews of rocker catalogs see's that Gun Blanks often have extra Flip / Rocker. Without ordering "custom" you might be able to buy a longer blank and eek out your short board......
Segwaycomposites.com will cut whatever rocker you want.....and they have a great stock catalog
Surf Supply in Oceanside has a good stock of US blanks and can custom order EPS and Poly....and good deals on fins
Basham's has everything and so does FoamEZ...Mitch's too....
We are very lucky to live California....custom rockers for every boy and girl.....(and we won't talk about taxes,ect...)
Ray
Great!
…You know what!
Why, oh why do we put perfectly ( ? ) blown foam blanks through the life long “Anxiety” of a life of tension and stress.
Why?
every one wants an extra inch in this fucked up world.
20 years of shaping from the blank and One thing that I can’t stand is… "WHY THE FUCK BEND A BLANK AND SET IT UNDER TENSION"
Why?
because
it fits the kook shapers desire
it gives a stronger deck rocker curve
It fits the MACHINE fuckers profile better
etc
…What ever, IT’S wrong! surfing is about getting rid of stress. Personally I hate the reality of riding-shaping-selling-watching and or visualizing blanks, twisting and warping as the foam battles with the wood and glass for a tension balance!!!.
It shits me.
EPS cut it-glue it- (hand shape it) and be free.
ha
Sounds like most of the custom rocker questions were answered above. If you order a custom blank from us by a Friday we will have it in the shop the following Wednesday. That is a pretty awesome service US Blanks affords us.
Let us know if we can help.
Brad
What about the longstanding roomors I’ve herd about FoamEZ getting an AKU shaping machine for offering the customer the most custom of blanks.
FWIW Ken Ebert at Segway is capable of doing exactly that right now and is probably the friendliest guy you'll find for helping people that are new to the technology.
In Hawaii I get all my eggs and mals with added flipped up noses. I’m using Arctic Foam and it works perfectly because we need more flip here compared to the mainland. Doesn’t seem to affect the foam one bit.
This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
“… surfing is about getting rid of stress.”
Dude, you’re stressin’ me out! 
Maybe someday I’ll give the EPS a try.
Thanks for the help!
Hi Otis-
Those are just rumors for now! We have definitely considered it a number of times but for now it’s a no-go. There are already a number of cutters in the immediate area so no need to compete with them. If the opportunitty arises when it does make sense we will pull the trigger. For now, we are working with a local cutting house and servicing our customers like that.
Thanks for the support!
Brad