For some reason, probably thanks to certain shaping videos, amateur instruction guides, and a couple of “surfboard shaping supply” websites, it is apparent that there is a plethora of new shapers who think there is only two power tools to be used when shaping/sanding boards. Yes the Hitachi “Clark Foam Mod” power planer and the Milwaukee 5540 variable speed 7" sander/polisher.
First off, in my honest opinion, ANYONE who spends the ridiculous $300+ price tag on that Clark Foam Mod Hitachi planer has to be out of their cotton-picking’ mind! I suppose if you are a production shaper, it might be worth it. However, for those of you who don’t know and are unaware you can get the original model Hitachi for a lot less, as low as $70 on ebay. Let’s not stop there though, when it comes to different brands vs. quality of tools, I encourage people to shop around, especially within there budget. Two brands I personally recommend are the Makita power planer and the Dewalt power planer. Both 3.25 inch heavy duty models. They are usually in the low $100 range and excellent tools. If Milwaukee were to make a power planer (i wish they did) I’m sure I’d put that at the top of the list.
Now as far as the polisher / sanders of the world… you can spend $40 for a china knock off from harbor freight or again, Dewalt, and Makita offer the same variable speed sander/polishers that are a bit cheaper than the Milwaukee, and also in my honest opinion just as good investment (Dewalt being the lower in I think… Makita are very good tools).
So I’m not posting this to promote any brands… but merely for those out there thinking that the Hitachi and Milwaukee are the only options…
Peace.
i use a dewalt planer that i got for $80, brand new on eBay.
and i just retired my HF sander/polisher for a Milwaukee 6078 i got for $135, also brand new on eBay.
So how do you modify the $70.00 e-Bay Hitachi planer to work just like the Clark planer? Where do you get the parts to get that cool 1/2 turn depth adjustment on the fly gizmo… Yeah you can buy cheaper planers, you can also use a door plane to get the job done, or you could use a surform, or maybe a piece of wood dipped in glue then sprinkled with sand…that would work too. Hey if there’s a better cheaper way, some one tell me?
Those Clark planers are not standard Hitachi planers. They’d be tweeked a touch to make dem surf’n boards, dats y the extra cost.
I’m a believer in you get what you pay for. As for sanders, there is a standard, everything else is trying to get to that standard. You should also use quality sanding backer pads, like a Ferro pad. All this stuff will help you make a better looking & quality surfboard. Smooth motor & berings, true sanding pads, solid heavy feel, good sand paper, flat plates etc.
It’s one thing if you don’t think you can afford the better tools. But my Dad told me along time ago, poor people can’t afford cheap tools. I’m still on my first Clark planer, I own two 5540’s…one got run over by the car and all that happened was the handle broke…try that with a dewalt, or Harbor Freight. Milwaukee is known for there drill, and the gearing in those drills. A sander is just a sideways drill…you will never burn out a Milwaukee making surfboards.
I don’t know, this surfboard thing is addicting. Not many people make only one board, if they do then they usually borrow tools. If you make two, then your probably making 10. If you do 10 then your on your way to 100. If you do 100 then…well you know. So why not start out right from the beginning.
I hate cheap power tools. Sorry to piss on the other planers and what not, it’s just not cost effective over time.
resinhead just said what I should have. There’s a reason we use those tools;
they’re the best ones available. The modified Hitachi is the ONLY surfboard-specific
planer in the world. I’ve modified other planers to simulate the Skil 100 adjustment
(back before the Clark planer program started, in the dark, dark ages of the 80s)
and it ain’t easy. But if you’re going to advance past the beginning phase of shaping
you’ve got to be able to adjust your cut w/o stopping to fiddle with a knob.
I’ve also got two different Milwaukee sanders, one over 25 yrs old. My Milwaukee
jigsaw is over 20. A few years ago I wore out the gears in it. The guy who maintains
my tools said he’d never seen that. We did some quick calculations and figured that
I had cut 28 MILES of foam with the thing. New gears and I’ll probably use it the rest
of my life.
It is very possible to shape a board w/o good tools. I used to do it. But someone with
much more experience than I told me to get the good stuff if I wanted to advance.
We’re trying to pass along that same advice now.
Mike
My Grandmother use to tell me “the tools make the man”