I want to try to build a longboard out of wood (as opposed to foam). I intend to actually ride it on occasion and am thinking of redwood as opposed to balsa because the balsa is very expensive. Can I get planks from my local lumberyardand just have at it? Is there anyone out there that can lead me to some tangible information on solid core wood board construction? Other than balsa and Koa (even more expensive). Is redwood the best? What other types which are available in southern California. Is there any information available on this “lost art.” Anyone try this? What design elements work best? Am I crazy, or what?
I’m building my first board out of balsa right now and it doesn’t cost me more than using foam. The trick is that instead of buying a lot of wood and then have to throw away more than 75% of it through shaping and hollowing I looked for a way to reduce waiste to less than 5%. I’m building the board with 1/2 " balsa planks on deck and bottom and solid laminated balsa rails (drawback is I had to settle for a flat deck rather than domed). Instead of building it the way Blake did (check out www.maui.net/~wooden/wooden.html and www.vintagesurfboards.net), I’m gluing my planks on a styrofoam core (it’s simpler, no wooden frame to build on, no air pressure problems, not much heavier and allows for thinnner planks, therefore more economical). So far, I’m still gluing the planks, and it’s going very well, the wood bends easily and ensures a nice and regular curve. Once done, I’ll take it to a glass shop and have it coated with epoxy (stronger + if polyester was used there’d be a risk it reaches and burn the styrofoam). There’s an Australian shaper who uses the same technic : http://www.riley.com.au
I want to try to build a longboard out of wood (as opposed to foam).>>> I intend to actually ride it on occasion and am thinking of redwood as > opposed to balsa because the balsa is very expensive. Can I get planks > from my local lumberyardand just have at it?>>> Is there anyone out there that can lead me to some tangible information on > solid core wood board construction?>>> Other than balsa and Koa (even more expensive). Is redwood the best? What > other types which are available in southern California. Is there any > information available on this “lost art.” Anyone try this? What > design elements work best?>>> Am I crazy, or what? Expensive? have you priced redwood? Balsa is running about 4.00$ per BF. a 1"x4"x10’Redwood will cost right at 20.00$. A classic wall hanger with rocker that is in the wood for balsa will cost 400.00$, wood only. Redwood, 575.00$?
I want to try to build a longboard out of wood (as opposed to foam).>>> I intend to actually ride it on occasion and am thinking of redwood as > opposed to balsa because the balsa is very expensive. Can I get planks > from my local lumberyardand just have at it?>>> Is there anyone out there that can lead me to some tangible information on > solid core wood board construction?>>> Other than balsa and Koa (even more expensive). Is redwood the best? What > other types which are available in southern California. Is there any > information available on this “lost art.” Anyone try this? What > design elements work best?>>> Am I crazy, or what? Well I too have thought about shaping a wood board…hmmmmm…i think redwood is not only big $$$ ,but pretty dense…i’m not sure it would float real well…i have heard that way back when you could’nt get balsa, dudes would make blanks out of agave (century plants) here in S. cal. I’m not sure of the process, but i’m sure it’s labor extensive…have been eyeing them ever since…theirs a guy …I can’t remember his name…linden maybe??? anybody …help?..I’m gonna try one…but don’t hold your breath!!!
redwood is more expensive than balsa, and harder to work with too. i’d stick to the balsa wood, or try and make a plywood kookbox. i’m about to start working on a hollowed out Tom Blake wooden hull type board. yeehaw! -steve
Agave wood? That sounds awsome. Where does one get agave wood? Thanks all – sounds like balsa is the way to go. I’m thinking now of balsa but solid – not hollow. Any tips on instructions and balsa planks?
I have - also - heard about those agavewood boards, before. Labor intensive, maybe, but isn’t that great? I have heard of bamboo and coffeewood boards being made in recent years. What have been some of YOUR non-balsawood - wooden board experiments? I have a REALLY wierd side project going (SORT OF “balsa-ery”, though)…I’m a big tea drinker, and sometimes the tea is available in rectangular BALSA containers. They have a sliding lid which I remove and I’ve been filling the “ready chambers” with polyurethane foam. I am actually building a blank from the damned things!!! Yeah, it WILL be a while, but ain’t that a kick?!..glued-up tea boxes! “Pass the crumpets, Nigel!”… aloha, Tom.
http://www.balsabill.com/ Check this guy out. He has a shop close to me. He is pretty cool and is way into the balsa thing. I don’t know how forthcoming he would be with specific info but you never know. I go down there from time to time to feel up his boards. He does cambered and solid boards. He also does some cool stuff with foam and balsa combos. The shapes aren’t really what I am in to but I appreciate the work that goes into them.
grows all over the place in South and Central Cal. After it blooms, the stalk dries out and eventually keels over. I’m still in the early phases of my first attempt but from what I’ve read you should wait until the plant is finished blooming and starts drying out before cutting otherwise it’s pretty heavy. The material, once it’s dry, is light but occasionally pithy. I have enough 12’ stalks to start slicing. My plan is to rip two flat sides, take a rocker template and cut the rocker into the slabs, then feed them through my surface planer so the two flat sides are perfect. I’ve been thinking of laminating the pieces together with black glue lines and a couple of stringers and I’ll hopefully have a workable blank. Jim Phillips clued me in to a laminating technique of sealing balsa with laminating resin before glassing and I think I’ll try that on this material since it seems to have some highly porous areas. I read in Surfer’s Journal “The year of the Century” (?) that Terry Martin (ultimate shaper) was building with this material down in Laguna Canyon. I’ve also seen some composites using foam, Balsa and Agave in Longboard Magazine.