Slipcheck: still avail. or replicated?

While working on a classic board, I had to remove some of decks slipcheck and now I’m at the point where I need to redo these areas (the slipcheck seems original). From the past threads, it seems that slipcheck was sold as a spray. Is there something still sold (color is black) or will I need replicate it? Also any ideas to keeping it as original looking as possible but cutting down on the grit would be great to hear. This stuff looks like it would be torturous to surf on. Thanks, Herb Bean

El Gripo

Aeronautic supply shops sell slipcheck type spray. It’s the non skid spray on the wings to get in and out of the cockpit & cabin. It’s a very low grit almost identical to slipcheck. comes in all sorts of colors to match plane interiors and exteriors. -Jay

Jay, Thanks - I’ll give it a try. Herb Bean

Back in the day - about 1968 - a friend had a beautiful Trestle Special in blue tint, one of the most beautiful boards I have seen. He laboriously taped off a full length flower print and applied black Slipcheck. Very nice job, considering he was about 15 at the time. BUT… Slipcheck will rasp off your skin like nothing else I’ve ever laid on. Think about lying on 220 grit sandpaper, working your way back outside through the shorebreak. It’ll grind off your surf bumps. It’s worse, way worse, than the slight rash you get from three hours on a softdeck. Still, he didn’t need to wax that area. I’d simply keep it away from where your chest will be, though that’s also where at least your forward foot will be, and defeats part of the purpose. You can get finely ground silica sand if you make some calls; remember also the sugar decks that windsurfers have used.

Charlie, Yeah, the stuff seems pretty nasty. The orginal job does leave the mid section of the board plain glass (just the tail and forward area has slipcheck). I’m not sure what to do with these areas. I want to stay as close to original as possible but don’t want it to get too carried away with the restore making the board uncomfortable to surf. I may just sand the areas smooth (looks like previous owner smoothed the back half before I got it anyway) and then paint a matt finsish for the affect - that is replicating the look but not getting the road-rash. Thanks, Herb Bean

had a talk with the “inventor” of slip-check.He now uses El Grippo and loves it.Of course he recommended wearing some sort of protection, eg, booties, wetsuit, vest, etc, as it will grind away at your bare skin.