Ordering a 9’ 6" single fin older style board. I noticed lately a lot of boards with a darker green area going completely around the board at the rails. Appears to be extra layer of glass No board I’ve had has this appearance, and I don’t know if they all had this overlap and it just wasn’t apparent, or what. I really prefer the simpler look of the board without this green edge. If I ask the shaper for the board to not have this appearance, does that mean it it won’t have the extra thickness? Is it important to have this? I’ve noticed many classic boards do not have this appearance. Thanks, Kip…
This is not the shapers fault. what that coloring is caused by is light bending through multiple layers of fiberglass and resin. If you go to the shaper, ask his glassing guy too not double/tripple/quadrouple up on glass on the rails. BUT you will sacrifice strength in that area with less glass. At least 1 layer of 6oz glass should be there, or maybe two layers of 4oz. It also could be the type of glass they use in their boards. It may be Volan that gives that bottle green color, or maybe a special S glass. it could even be a slight tint caused by the color of the resin they use. It may be left over like that, or it may have interacted with the glass and caused a color change. Somany factors could cause that discoloration like humidity and temerature. However it is most likeley what type of resin or glass they use OR it may be how many layers of glass on the rails. Talk to the glasser, and he will most likey know what too do. Hope this helped
Angus
Sounds like you are looking at a volan glassed board, which is what we do on a lot of classic style boards that go out our doors from multiple shapers, volan has a slight green tint ant its cutlapped so you can see the line.
This was very common glassing back in the day.
Thanks guys:
What I’m referring to is something that I haven’t seen until recently. I’ve been researching a new board purchase, and I’m seeing what appears to be deliberate “extras” that are supposed to be visually obvious. As mentioned, the increased glass around the edge. Also, I’m seeing “deck patches”: obvious extra layers of glass on the deck in the middle going from side to side. The retailer seemed to think these were disireable, and there were extra charges listed for these patches. I don’t believe (or at least it wasn’t apparent) that any of my boards or other “classic” boards had this (or at least the appearance). I’m going to ask the shaper (who will also be glassing) if he can avoid this without compremising the board- none of his other boards have it. Any further input appreciated; thanks again, Kip…
You are speaking about Volan cloth cutlap. Most boards are freelapped. You've obviously just never noticed it before. Volan cutlaps are usually custom ordered. The average longboard comes out of a glass shop with freelapped rails and "E" glass leaving the lap at the rails almost undetectable. Volan cloth is cutlapped because the slight greenish color of the cloth would look like crap if it were freelapped. A nice tape off and a cutlap is classic. Mutiple layers of glass overlapping are increasingly more noticable cosmetically. If you want a truly "classic" longboard get it with Volan. Volan is what you are looking at. Most likely you"ve just never noticed it before.
Based on the good info above, boards I’ve owned were not Volan- were freelaped using E-glass. I’m not sure if I care if board has the authenticity of Volan. Are there other advantages to Volan? I realize this issue may have been covered significantly in this forum, so if I don’t get an answer, I’ll understand. Thanks so much, Kip…