Shaping Questions

Today I purchased my blanks and came home and spent the evening messing around. I bought two 7’4 R’s to make funboards with. There is so much more foam than on a typical shortboard or fish. Much more challenging. That coupled with trying to use a planer for the first time, what a pain in the ass. But I’m stubborn and I’ll figure it out. Is it supposed to open automatically as you plane? I got my planer used and it likes to just open up. I feel more comfortable using a surform to thin the deck down, it’s just not as uniform or fast. I had a very difficult time doing the rails on the 7’3. Very wide rails, and I didn’t know how much to do the rail bands at. Any advice would do me good!

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Today I purchased my blanks and came home and spent the evening messing around. I bought two 7’4 R’s to make funboards with. There is so much more foam than on a typical shortboard or fish. Much more challenging. That coupled with trying to use a planer for the first time, what a pain in the ass. But I’m stubborn and I’ll figure it out. Is it supposed to open automatically as you plane? I got my planer used and it likes to just open up. I feel more comfortable using a surform to thin the deck down, it’s just not as uniform or fast. I had a very difficult time doing the rails on the 7’3. Very wide rails, and I didn’t know how much to do the rail bands at. Any advice would do me good!

Planer doesnt open automatically but it can open or close following a bump or a dip of you dont hold on the the knob.

Pick up the shaping 101 video and see how carper does his rail bands. The more measurements and marks so you can see where to cut the better…unless your really good. Practice as much as you can with the planer. Thats your primary shaping tool. Practice on scrap foam or peel the glass off an old board.