I like shaping and don’t mind glassing. After that I lose interest. Was thinking about trying to sell hotcoated boards. Fin boxes and leash plugs installed. Is this a crazy idea? I only build a few. Maybe try em on Swaylocks.
Big problem is that I am on the coast of Georgia. I95 and I16 are within a couple of mile though.
What do you think?
Isn’t that kind of common in the industry now, no gloss for a lighter board? I can’t see where it would be a problem, and your boards are beautiful. You are an artist, there should be a waiting list for your boards, not kidding.
But have no idea about shipping logistics, seems like that would be the thing to be concerned about. Maybe find a shipper to Calif., Florida, etc. I’m guessing Hawaii too expensive, but anything in the contiguous US should be do-able. I’m sure lots of shapers get orders in out of the way places, and have to deal with shipping. Seems to me there have been some threads on the subject in the past.
cleanlines,
You are saying you would like to sell or market hot coated boards, to be sanded and finished off by buyer, yeah?
Yea,letting the buyer sand and finish it off. Crazy eh?
Put a couple of these unsanded boards on consignment at a shop and combo with a new sanding/finishing DVD and see what happens. Your glassing quality doesn’t need more than an orbital sander anyhow. DIY kits for anything have great retail attraction these days.
Back in my younger days I rode boards that had been hotcoated and unsanded all of the time. I would just buzz the rails with a sander real quick and ride it. Actually at this stage they are very strong. Cutting the wax off and the heat from the sanding pad weaken the board somewhat. I always get stoked after hot coating a board…thats when you can grab it and it feels like a surfboard.
Probably the biggest negative about riding unsanded boards are the comments in the parking lot "like “Hey Brucker were you drunk or what whan you wen make da board?”
Actually I have a pretty good system for pre sanding the laps of a board before hotcoating. Comes out pretty smooth.
I may post a couple on Sways. I have a sweet 9’6" classic pig with clear lam ready to go.
Cleanlines, was that you who had the pictures of the finished boards out in the yard with the big trees a couple years ago? I don’t remember a specific board but appreciated the craftmanship of the boards and the setup for the pics.
I think you’re on to something, Pete’s idea is good too. I can see it as an alternative for those who cannot do the whole process of shaping/glassing and a chance to learn by studying a well-made board. Maybe polish a small spot over a logo as a teaser or example?
Perhaps it would all come down to the price , is there a significant cost saving to the customer/end user ?
When I worked with Eaton we had boards glassed that way. If you do everything super clean in the glassing there is not too much that has to be cleaned up to get it “rideable”. This was his “budget” model. Since all the other boards had gloss polish and colors, these were clear, there was a savings.
That’s a bit like a car company doing 90% and leaving it up to the consumer to paint it.
No way I would put a board out there un-finished.
Not with my name on it.
Maybe a logo that says,
Stop sanding when you see bare foam!
I’m with Barry. Cleanlines be ready to be blamed when the buyer ruins it with bad sanding. Better off selling them that way to a pro sander who will finish them. But either way, if your name is on it, you get the “credit”
As a backyard hack, I would say no to this idea. It’s so easy to mess up an awesome board due to lack of experience with the sander. As everysrufer stated, you’ll get blamed for the ruined board, no matter how detailed your instructions are.
Liddle has been selling his boards that way for years. Used to see his boards in the Beach House Santa Barbara. Each board had sanding instructions attached and an explanation on Greg’s theory behind sanded finish boards.
Why not just pay a professional sander $15 to $30 per board to finish, then sell them for $200 more since they’re completed?
In my opinion Liddle makes good boards , but no cost savings there . I would guess that most guys that make boards have at one time or another surfed a board without finish sanding and polishing , does it make the board surf better?
You guys have seen Roger’s stuff, right? This is like Michaelangelo saying I think I’m gonna put some pictures for sale unframed… Just sayin’ Not your run of the mill stuff we’re discussing here.
Cleanlines Post some Photos of your Boards. Might just stop by on my way up to Myrtle Beach to see my Sister. Hope you get a littlebump from the storm moving up the Coast.
Just checked Savanniah Craigslist Are you by any chance selling a 9’ 6" blue and white Pig?
Well maybe you are right about “ruining my name” or some such but I really could care less ya know. I could put another logo on though. Might be a good idea.
I am in bumb fuck GA and there are no board sanders around. If I take the time to teach someone I usually never see them again. Not going that route ever again.
My current mindset is that I am over building “art” boards for now. I just want to shape. Since there are no glassers around here I have to do em myself. I hate sanding and polishing. Maybe I am lazy. Hell I am 66 and tired.
As for price (for example) how about a 9’6" pig…US Blank…6oz glass…fins unlimited box…leash plug for $585 picked up at my shop.
I have a paid for building and house so my overhead is about zero.
I sold it cheap. I considered it a second. A friend bought it.