I was wondering how many of you actually shape, paint AND glass your own boards?(balsa excluded). I currently shape mine and send them to a local pro glass shop to be painted and glassed. I hold a great amount of respect for those that can glass a board. Even more for those that do it all. Any of you that “do it all” and actually sell your boards on a regular basis? It seems to me that it just wouldn’t be practical to make boards from start to finish (solo),and run a business selling them. Is there anyone out there that does all this solo?
I was wondering how many of you actually shape, paint AND glass your own > boards?(balsa excluded). I currently shape mine and send them to a local > pro glass shop to be painted and glassed. I hold a great amount of respect > for those that can glass a board. Even more for those that do it all. Any > of you that “do it all” and actually sell your boards on a > regular basis? It seems to me that it just wouldn’t be practical to make > boards from start to finish (solo),and run a business selling them. Is > there anyone out there that does all this solo? I have been sanding for almost 30 years and just kept going through the ranks until about 13 years ago I finally started to shape, so I have been shaping, coloring, glassing, finning, sanding, and the occasional polished gloss for awhile. I produce around 300 boards a year by myself. I really enjoy doing it all.
Ditto to what Mike just said. I too do it all and enjoy standing behind the finished product,with no excuses for work done elsewhere by somebody else(or the delays). I build between 125-150 boards a year, with most being sold out of the factory at retail. Mix in some contract laminating for shapers in your area, a reputation for quality ding repair and you can almost earn a living. The limited volume turns customer relations into friendships and eliminates the stress of shaping (and delivering to the glass shop, then selling) 25 boards a week. Bigger isn’t always better. jim dunlop
And Whiz and Jim know what they are talking about. I haven’t owned any of their boards (yet) but have seen and admired their work. Excellent!! These two guys are some of NE florida’s best! Looks like we have a full J-ville contingent here, Shine, CB, Whiz and JD.
Not only would it be cheaper if you did everything yourself, but you would gain a new appreciation of those who do at such a high level of craftsmenship. Also it would give you the ability to reach a free range of experimentation (whether good or bad). You would not have to rely on instructions to the glasser, or anyone else to carry out your vision, and it would equip you with new knowledge that would carry over the next time you bring a board for someone else to finish. To those who do it all themselves and actually make a living doing it, my hat is off to you. I do all my own just for myself and a handful of friends. I can only imagine what it must take to stay motivated/driven to keep up with all the aspects of making a board on an ongoing basis. Keep it up.
Ive only done a handful but i have done them all from start to finish. All of them for my son and I. Its heaps of fun if you take your time. its also makes surfing 10X more fun when you are on a board you have created from start to finish. there is definetly a learning curve but each one gets better and better. I also find laminating almost as enjoyable as shaping.
havent glassed any of my boards yet but theyll be done soon. im doing everything from shaping to sanding. who knows. maybe ill be a big shaper in jax in about 20 years. nothing like making your own board. later
I was wondering how many of you actually shape, paint AND glass your own > boards?(balsa excluded). I currently shape mine and send them to a local > pro glass shop to be painted and glassed. I hold a great amount of respect > for those that can glass a board. Even more for those that do it all. Any > of you that “do it all” and actually sell your boards on a > regular basis? It seems to me that it just wouldn’t be practical to make > boards from start to finish (solo),and run a business selling them. Is > there anyone out there that does all this solo? I’ve shaping and glassing for yrs on my boards, I will send a board out to be glassed when I don’t have enough time because of other boards stacking up.
dOeS aNyOnE rEmEmBeR tHe qUeStIoN ???
The question is clearly posted above, under my name. Herb, Do you craft any boards from start to finish and sell them at a profit?>>> dOeS aNyOnE rEmEmBeR tHe qUeStIoN ???
I think Herb was just saying that some of the respondents were not addressing your clearly stated question. That’s all.
and i thought he was being tongue-in-cheek about the intoxicating qualities of polyester resin. my guess is that he has shaped/glassed and sold a relatively high number of boards.>>> I think Herb was just saying that some of the respondents were not > addressing your clearly stated question. That’s all.
But I couldn’t resist…Sure I have done it all with an added bonus of owning,and running a retail shop for 3 years. Unless you plan on making some sacrifices,(and you don’t save that much money by doing the glassing yourself)And put into your mind that you want to learn the art of glassing… and you only do a couple boards a year.It’s much easier to send them to out production.Herb.
You pretty much got it right!Herb.
I have enjoyed watching Mike grow as a shaper/glasser/artisan from the late 70’s with Winnie Strickland and on his own with his Whiz label. I’ve always peeked my head in when in town to watch him either shape or glass. Top notch work from an extremely high quality individual…Jim Dunlop on the other hand is demented and should have his skil planner and squeege aprehended!!! Having seen his work first hand and having four(4) of his watercrafts-five if you include his personal board (whenever he decides to come up to Charleston and surf-Hey Jim a gooood Low pressure is forecasted SE of us to develop in 36 hours. Come on up???) in my board rack I am proud to say that I need not go to anyone else to have a board made. Jim puts in alot of sweat, brains,and God given talent into his artwork. I am greatful and blessed to be able to say that Jimmy is my best friend and surfing buddy. Always looking forward to seeing you when the waves are “Thumping”. Aloha and Mahalo- Peter
I’ve noticed that a lot of you respond to posts here just to praise a friend or a shaper of your personal quiver. That’s fine, but many don’t even respond to the actual original question. I’m gonna tune-out all this, and turn-on to shaping the good ol’ fashion way…create something and modify it from there. Sure, everyone needs advice in the beginning, but practical experience in shaping, airbrushing, and glassing, can NOT be topped by a discussion board. “The fuse has been lit”…sssssss I have enjoyed watching Mike grow as a shaper/glasser/artisan from the > late 70’s with Winnie Strickland and on his own with his Whiz label. I’ve > always peeked my head in when in town to watch him either shape or glass. > Top notch work from an extremely high quality individual…Jim Dunlop on > the other hand is demented and should have his skil planner and squeege > aprehended!!! Having seen his work first hand and having four(4) of his > watercrafts-five if you include his personal board (whenever he decides to > come up to Charleston and surf-Hey Jim a gooood Low pressure is forecasted > SE of us to develop in 36 hours. Come on up???) in my board rack I am > proud to say that I need not go to anyone else to have a board made. Jim > puts in alot of sweat, brains,and God given talent into his artwork. I am > greatful and blessed to be able to say that Jimmy is my best friend and > surfing buddy. Always looking forward to seeing you when the waves are > “Thumping”. Aloha and Mahalo- Peter
This is a good example of a highly motivated individual. Also disproving that shaping is an automatic relegation to a life of abject poverty. Mike, no doubt about it, your good and good at it! Shine http://users.leading.net/~shine