I Just finally got my board glassed, I ended up having GH shape it, I colored it and Bashams glassed it. I SURFED it and it is AMAZING (more on that later).
Here is the journey: Well I got BAD news, the guy I know who use to glass boards, who originally offered to look over my shoulder and help me out with the glassing is being a HUGE FLAKE. He started off telling me that If I had a blank shaped he/we would glass it, I just have to buy the supplies, then progressed to the fact that he does NOT have any of the tools anymore (meaning I would have to get a sander, power pad, buffing pad, squeegez, shaping stand, etc…). At this point I knew it was going to be well over $100 for tools and materials. I ACTUALLY purchased a sander with full intent to use it, bought some saw horses and modified them to use for glassing, bought a bunch of sand paper, etc…
This situation then progressed to “You will glass it and I will look over your shoulder to help, but you will do it”…Then to, “Hey is it OK if we do it at your house (mine) my wife says we have too much junk in the garage” (side note-I live about 45 min away).
Then comes my HUGE fear, He MAYBE helps me do it the 1st day, then from there on out he never comes down and tells me instructions over the phone, etc…Since Monday (several weeks ago) I have totally been paniced, I don’t want to be in a situation where I am in over my head or screw something up. Kind of the guy that is going to help you rebuild your engine, you get ALL the parts taken out and you never hear from the guy again.
I kept asking him all along if he was “SURE” it was OK for him to do it for me, do it at his house, etc…I even offered him for some of my free services that he wanted.
On Monday, he was asking when we should get started and I told him I am going to have a glass shop do it. He started to back track, offered to do it AT HIS HOUSE (I thought his wife said “NO”) etc…I was just to the point where I was pissed but over it. I feel SOOOOO bad because so many on this site have really helped me out with my questions.
So HERE is where I am. Last Tues picked up blank from Gary Hanel (had a GREAT conversation with him). Found a glass shop near my home to do the glass work. So, to actually feel part of the process (and save a few bucks at the same time) I decided to do the color work myself. I decided on the colors. Sunday we made a paint swirl sort of a “fathers day project” (my wife is really into photography as well, so she took lots of pics). I did the swirl on Sunday and sprayed the rails and bottom today (Tues). After I sprayed, went up to Probox to pick up a fin system and meet with Larry Allison. We had a great talk, showed me around, talked A TON about fin design and theory, etc…Then got back and drove the board to the glass shop (pics later).
This is what I did (I will post pics when it is done). Paint swirl on deck with yellow/green/orange, then did a darker green on the rails and bottom. The glass shop is going to glass, gloss and polish, white pinline, etc…
I know it isn’t exactly like doing my own board, but at least I got to learn a TON, paint it, do box system, meet with Gary Hanel, and Larry Allison, and get a LOT of advice and knowledge from guys like you here on swaylocks.
Maybe someday when I get more patience and nerve I will shape and glass my own, but this one I just had to defer to the glass shop.
Thanks for your help!!!
The board is 6’4" X 22 X 3 1/8"
