Always be absolutly sure the sharp side of your single edge blade is down, not up, when you start to cut that lap.
Never turn on a planer unless you’re certain that the blades tightened, especially one that just came out of a box from eBay. Even after you’ve done a blade adjustment and torqued the screws, set it at zero and start it on a big chunk of foam first. You may never know when a screw strips or a blade is cracked. Once you’ve heard that shotgun blast sound and something goes supersonic past your head, you’ll remember this advice.
Tips and tricks are things you collect your entire life. Your process of building should never be considered locked-down / complete. After 45+ years, I’m still finding better ways to do things. Whatever you collect, always share it with others and they may improve on it. There’s usually a story that goes along with each trick, don’t forget that either when you pass it on. That’s what this place is all about.
White Vinegar to clean epoxy, never acetone
Wet out table + Vacuum bag = magic
Only use Epoxy surfacing agent on the last coat. Use xylene to thin previous coats, but only if necessary. 30 seconds in a microwave is better. And carbon fiber that accidentally gets in the microwave makes sparks… and will ruin the microwave.
Always use a scale set to grams to measure epoxy ratios. Never use measuring cups.
NEVER use spackle to fill EPS voids. Microballon/ Epoxy slury is better
Never put Bill Thrailkill and Roy Stuart in a room together at the same time. Sort of like Cobalt/ Catalyst/ Resin in the wrong ratios. =). Or me and Ghettorat!
Nylon 6,6
Cute girls make surfing more fun. You guys need to either bring your sisters, or stay home.
Resinhead is really funny, Resinbut isn’t
A short block plane with an adjusting screw is better for taking doen the stringer at the nose, than a spoke shave. Plane a foot, and then adjust the blade, plane another foot and adjust it again. Will give you the perfect stringer.
A sharp hand plane will take down the stringer a little below the foam. then sand the foam down to the stringer. Otherwise you get that high spot at the ridge.
All curves are radii. Both templates and rocker. Understand the radius of the curve. If you can measure it you can repeat it, otherwise you are lost.
A warm Labradore sleeping on your feet on a cold night is about as good as it gets.
Stingray is really funny too.
Those are my tips.
That’s what the Moil said.
My uroligist told me, the more you touch it, the less symmetrical it will be.
Seriously though, my uroligist is actually a pretty awesome shaper, and was giving me advice for my first board.
Stingray…Beware…
I like EverySurfer…but…I agree to disagree…My tricks only apply to me…my methods work if you stick with me…the trick is to follow only one Guy…try to follow Stingray and Every and Barry and Huie and Some dude from Hawaii…next thing you know your bag of tricks is now a mixed up bag of nothing…I’m no guru. I have a no nonsense method for glassing surfboards. That’s my trick. Would you like a link?
I’m sure StoneBurner can give you the link…He’s the research guy…and…one more useless tip
When the tide is high…and the swell is low…paddle out with your Bro’s…make it happen! Surfing is for fun.
Stingray