My dad wouldn’t let me get a power planer when I started shaping (and I was the same age as you are)- he was old-school about hand-tools. So I used a big Stanley hand plane for my first few boards. It turned intp a math assignment: how many passes (at 2 inches wide, and 1/32’’ deep) would it take to remove 3/4+‘’ of foam (no close-tolerance blanks, back then) from a 20’’ wide blank?
A lot of walking!
You can find the Microplane tools http://www.foamez.com/shaping-replacement-blades-c-2_27.html , the Zona Spokeshave http://www.foamez.com/shaping-hand-tools-c-2_24.html and all of the tools needed to build your board on our site. Just in case you all didn’t know this already. Try supporting your surf related shops rather than supporting any arbitrary online store. Cheapest is not always best; customer service, speed of delivery, and the ability to talk to an educated board builder is worth something. Isn’t it?
Enjoy the search.
Brad
Yeah, Will, if your on the cheap go to home depot or lowes and get a panel of foam, a foam cutter (knife) and some 40-80 grit sandpapaer. - should be around 20 bucks or something, maybe less. Basically that is all you really need. Cut the panel lengthwise leaving enough width for your dream surfboard plus a tad. With the off-cut, slice it width this time to make three equal pieces and draw out your surfboard shape at one third or quarter size on each panel and see what you get. Remember if you glue up the practice panels leave the glue two or three inches inside the plan shape to allow rail sanding in just the foam and no glue.
If you win the lottery get the planer, a surfboard blank and the videos.
ooops almost left out the tape measure.
Hi Brad
Well said and dead right!
I’ve been meaning to order one of those mini spoke sahves for a few weeks now, I’ll get on to it. (Best give it a week for the wife to get used to the new band saw first though)Thanks for re-posting the link. I can’t remember what the carriage was going to cost to the UK though; any thoughts?
here’s my .02:
if you’ve never seen a board shaped before, get the JC video, and watch it…alot.
if you’ve never shaped a board before, get as close to shape desired blank as possible.
as far as tools: what doc said.
but here’s my list:
shaping racks. can find examples in archives? build em yourself.
lights: can get 4’ long fluorescent lights…complete…from wallymart cheap. 3 of 'em will do the job.
a place to put the racks, hang the lights, and start shaping.
or the backyard in some shade for contrast.
the sanding belt on the long block to skin the blank, do preliminary work on the rail cuts.
a handsaw to cut the outline.
the microplane blade on the long surform to take down the stringer, clean up the deck and bottom, do detail work on the rails, true up the outline.
100 grit sandpaper on a 12" block to help the rails, true the outline, clean up deck and bottom.
drywall screen (shaping screen) cleans rails, can use with a piece of upholstery foam to clean up deck and bottom.
glassing: using poly resin. i’ll leave advice re: epoxy to those who use it.
respirator
box of latex gloves
acetone
lam resin
sanding resin
squeegee
plastic tubs to mix resin in
catalyst
tape
enuff 6 oz fiberglass cloth to do 1 layer top and bottom, and have a bit left over.
chip brush for the sanding coat. 4" will do.
keep it simple, do a clear freelap on the first board. if u can afford a glassing video, get it and watch it first. alot.
fins. hmmmm. i’d go glassons for the first board. you’re 14. u got plenty of time. u can handsand them.
with any luck some swaylockers in your area might let u sit in on them when they’re shaping/glassing. that would be the best help u could get.
good luck/have fun.
thanks guys
…fella, I tell ya again
if you want to learn how to shape, go with an electric planer
if you only want to shape one board, ok, go with the other tools
but I guess that you want shape more than one board
you dont ruin any foam with an electric planer if you take it easy
go with shallow and sharp passes and you ll not have any problem
think first what you want to do, then go with the tool
if you start a shaping path or a board building path in about 20 years or so you ll remember what I m saying now
ok im a going to get a planer but just take it very easy and get help from others!
Ya, get an electric planer. Cheap one will be fine. It will probably last you quite a few boards. Ebay is a good place, see this…