Hey guys, I’ve recently just shaped a little 5"2 twin fin and I’ve been really interested in trying a resin swirl or paint stain.
Questions… Resin swirl or foam stain?
I’ll be using poly resin so I know that will be an issue with the resin going off too quick doing a resin swirl, anyone got any tips? When it comes to foam stains I’m a little confused on how to do it, do I glass the board straight after doing it or do I let the paint dry then sand and glass as usual? I’m really confused with that…
Any hints or tips would be much appreciated. Thanks
I’d watch a few videos and go from there…I’m no pro,this is what I noticed …Foam stain is nice because you glass clear and can free lap it. Foam stain might take a little longer to dry.Resin swirl can mud up if you work the resin to much and colors mix up and turn brown,plus you have a lap line to deal with. I’ve done free laps with resin swirl and hidden the free laps pretty well with swirls. I like to use a few drops of tint , try to get both sides the same amounts. Also make sure your squeegee is clean on every swipe on the foam stain or it’ll look bad. I would not sand the foam stain,just dry and lam. You could foam stain deck and swirl bottom just for practice to see what you like.trail and error(s)
I normally do foam stains with pigmented (or tinted) resin, not paint. I’d suggest you try doing a foam stain on part of your board, e.g. a panel that’s been taped off, so you get some idea of how it works. Basically you color (one, two, three colors, whatever you like…) and then catalyze the resin, mix colors if desired, pour it on the board (or pour the colors separately)…in a pattern you like, then squeegee it off as neatly as possible…
Resin swirl is a similar idea, just with fiberglass instead of on bare foam. So, slightly trickier, if you’re not already practiced at laminating a board with clear resin/no color you might want to get those basic skills down first…
I would just do it in the lamination, it sounds scarier but it is not harder than a foam stain (less steps = less chances of F**** up).
I found colors to have more depth when done in the lam.
It is also easier to get the color you want if done in the lam as foam stain tends to “wash” your color if you don’t know what you are doing.
If you want to make it easy, use tints and not pigments, and use UV LAMINATING RESIN.
As long as you laminate in a UV protected area (like in your garage) you will be able to take all the time you need to lam the board and then put the board in the sun to kick the resin in 10 minutes, more or less depedning of the colors you used…
I would also try and do a cutlap, just for the sake of learning, but that’s just me
I’ve used those little acrylic paint bottles from Michaels successfully. On EPS. The material spreads pretty well and you don’t have to mix colors. There are hundreds of colors to choose from.
Hey man, Just know that if using UV Lam resin with tints (not pigments, which require full catalyzation) you should still use a bit of catalyst. A little bit under 1% at about 70 degrees ferenheit will still get the tinted resin to kick but with still lots of work time. Wanna be safe because if you do not use catalyst with tinted resin there is achance it might not kick all the way thru with only UV light. Both techniques are super cool and provide sweet results. just depends on what you want. Stick lammed board in the sun on some clean racks. When the bottom is pretty much kicked, flip board and let the laps get a little sun. Feel for the lap to start to harden up and then bring it back into the shop. The reaction will stop more or less. Cut your laps and then stick it back in the sun for full cure. Then lam the deck and repeat process. If your not using UV just kick your resin at 1% or so and try to get everything lammed up tight in 15 mins or under. feel for resin to get pretty hard but not fully kicked. then cut laps. If doing a resin swirl, mix all your colors before you add catalyst. Then just add the Cat to every color, stir and start swirling!
I was thinking that doing a foam stain would be less risky as ide have more time to not worry about doing the laps as I dont have UV resin although it is something to look into
At the moment im not using UV resin but I think that im going to buy it mainly so i have more time as i am only an ammiture. Alot of different opinions on foam stain V swirl, i guess its just trial and error to find out what works best fot me
If I’m not using Uv resin would you still recommend using tints? May I ask why you use tints rather than pigment??
Using Uv does seem like an along better choice for an ammiture as it gives you plenty of time and not worrying about it kicking too early on you. Thanks mate that really helped. Will post pictures when done
Tints are transparent. Pigments are opaque. Just depends on what you want astetically. Still go for some tinted/pigmented resin if thats the look your going for. Just be really organized and take your time. Make sure you have all of your materials ready and at hand. have a clear plan going into the project and you will be fine. Also mix up a bit more resin than you think you need becase running out of resin in the middle of a catalyzed lamination can be a stressful event especially when you are starting out. Check out the Austin Surfboards videos on youtube. Shows how a resin swirl is done. Just rememeber to catalyze every individual color before swirling them together. good luck
I’d suggest to limit yourself to 3 basic colors for your first swirl try. That worked best for me: blue (a big batch of) black and white (a small glass of each); Catalyse all three, pour the white and then the black into the blue (pour them from some height so they will reach deep into the blue) in a random way. 3 to 5 stirs (a cooking whip works fine), not more or you will just mix everything together. Pour onto the glass, also in a random way (like a long pour along the whole center and then circular pours everywhere else, well, you get the idea…) Let the glass absorb resin so that it reaches the foam underneath. You may start squeegeeing right there but without applying any pressure to the squeegee, just to move resin into places that have not been wetted yet. Wipe the squeegee between each pass or have several ready to use. Allow one to two minutes for the resin to reach the foam, then start laminating as usual, except wiping the squeegee clean as often as possible. Work fast and calm. Easier to say than to do the first time, I know. Austin taught me all I know, he’s one of the best at that. Too bad that he recently decided to quit.
I wasnt aware that he quit. That is too bad because I really admired his boards. Being from the East Coast I always love a great East Coast board builder. I always wanted on eof his boards and now I regret not owning one. Any reason for him quitting the biz?
He’s been thinking a lot since he became a father, about the fumes that he used to breathe day after day, mask or not mask, and he decided that he would not take any risk health wise. Or so I understood. Besides, he has started a new company where he produces pens that are built from rifle cartridges. (Link below)
I was thinking of doing 3 colours and my main colour being red with a small amount of white and black. Did you use UV resin when you did yours? That has really helped me alot thank you! I have been watching Austins videos on youtube and man he knows how to maked a board look amazing
