i noticed a post on the industry news board that there was a shortage of skilled glassers. just wanted to know how many shapers/glassers/sanders out there are passing on the torch as far as the next generation goes.
ive probably trained about 40 people to do various things from shaping to fixing dings…im over it…
unless a guy walks in and his only question is wheres the toilet ,then im not interested in employing him …im sick of the pain…
plus im not a qualified pshyclogist…to many problem cases out there now…
regards
BERT
now dont be like that bert, maybe your just not hiring the right people.
Actually, Bert is right. There has been a consistent complaint from glassers (USA) that getting quality people is next to impossible. One of the questions that will be asked is whether you surf, windsurf or, kitesurf? If you answer yes to any of the three sports you will most likely not be getting the job. Hint, Hint for you job seekers! They want somebody who will actually show up for work. This is hard work that requires attention to detail. Good productioin glassers(the ones I know) can make a good living($50,000+) but, you have to want to work. A shape is only as good as the glasser makes it!!
Anthony
I recently dropped off my first board at local glass shop…I was surprised that very few of the guys working there actually surfed…
I know a glasser that makes 60k+ a year working 2 shops and still finds time to surf.
Here is the main problem with surfboard production.When you work piecework ($ per board) you do well when the orders are rolling and starve when they aren’t.Its best to be a jack of all trades and learn it all.Above all show up for work.You don’t have to be a surfer to build quality boards,it ain’t rocket science.I do believe that a shaper should have wave knowledge if he is going to hand shape.The best craftsman I ever had was an ex auto body shop guy from Oklahoma.
Howzit Sea, A few years back I tried to set up a ding repair class for the Hanalei surf co. team and the response I got was thanks but no thanks we’ll just let mom and dad pay for the repairs. This really struck home since back in the 60’s it seemed you weren’t complete as a surfer if you couldn’t do your own repairs. My how the times have changed. Aloha, Kokua
Quote:
Howzit Sea, A few years back I tried to set up a ding repair class for the Hanalei surf co. team and the response I got was thanks but no thanks we’ll just let mom and dad pay for the repairs. This really struck home since back in the 60’s it seemed you weren’t complete as a surfer if you couldn’t do your own repairs. My how the times have changed. Aloha, Kokua
I have always found this ASTONISHING! So many surfers even at the pro level really dont know jack about their boards and how thier made. My wifes cousin is a womens pro longboarder and when i told her i just glassed my board with epoxy she asked me how did i make the molds.
i agree that it is all too easy to go and put your board in a shop and pay for it to get fixed. personally i dont know anyone (friends ect) who can do good quality ding repairs and trial and error means the first few tries will turn a board ugly. myself and a friend have glassed a couple of blanks when we first started out shaping a few years ago, but we had no one to show us the little secrets that are involved which went against us. i have approached a couple of shapers while ordering a new board and asked a coupel of Q’s but they seem cagey to part with any tips. so that puts me in the same basket with everyone else, i take my dings to the shop, and i send my blanks to a glasser because i dont have a freakin clue how to keep it all nice and clean. im up for a career change and i wouldnt mind learning the art but i started to notice it was a bit of a closed shop, i just wonder with this generation of grommets if it will all go to computers like steve clements is doing in Australia. he just travels with computer and when he wants a new board he just puts in the dimensions and there it is. i would hate to see it get like that.
Kokua, things sure have changed since the 60’s. It’s not the same world that most of us older guys grew up in. I work with High School kids, and for the most part it’s a “GIVE IT TO ME NOW!” mentality. They grew up in a disposable society, where things don’t get fixed, they get replaced. I too, also wonder what is going to happen to craftsmanship and whats left to manufacturing in this country.