I make surfboards, and threads

DrZoidberg

DrZoidberg

Active member
So I make things, and one of the things I enjoy making are surfboards. No I don't sell, I don't have intention of selling, this isn't an ad. Some people like these threads, so to those people, well, here you go. And it's getting warm, my hill is closing, the ocean is still cold as fuck though.

Number one, a 5'7"x18.5"x 2.75, thickness is questionable in terms of measurement precision. I was afraid to mess up the rocker. The idea was a fast, buoyant twin fin for summer mush with a flat tail rocker and normal nose rocker. I downsized from a 6'4" to this board, it was great, first wave was a .5 second barrel to a massive beating on an unusually large day for summer. Which was 100% worth it. Slid down the whole face (Twin fins, right?), stomped the tail to slow down, then got eaten by the foam. Pictures, which are out of order...

384313_393364344054014_587654581_n.jpg


Note the ghetto shaping rack and super thick board, pre rail shaping.

182188_397594766964305_1985936397_n.jpg


Tons of tail, mid section and nose volume, for ultimate mush riding capability.

394761_398265126897269_741999036_n.jpg


391496_397594570297658_2099310121_n.jpg


Ghetto light setup to check rail foils.

548138_399054980151617_425696238_n.jpg


Glassed on fins.

529324_394406803949768_454611427_n.jpg


Fins, which got foiled more before glassing them on.

380674_400418316681950_1366510293_n.jpg


I'm a chem major, it's urethane foam monomer, this is a polyurethane foam blank. US blanks red density, the 5'10" fish blank, for anybody who wants to know.

391363_403054593084989_1255538861_n.jpg


Went overboard with the wax, I was so excited the night before riding it. Brought an extra board to the beach just incase it snapped or sank, but it didn't.

It rode well, for being a really thick, flat, mildly asymmetric shortboard. Turns quick, but the flatter tail rocker seems to create turbulence, it's approaching mini simmons tail rocker status. Plus the craftmanship could have been better. A bit more tail rocker and less tail volume could help.
 
that's super dope that you make boards. a friend and i were planning on making wakesurfs and SUP's, just haven't gotten around to it. eventually, we wanna make natural wood alaia's and olo's
 
So I tried again, cause making stuff is fun. I'll explain with photos.

406650_459581894098925_694148396_n.jpg


This is boardcad, a program for making boards. It's cool to see it in 3d before shaping it, and get all the data and intermediate measures.

23732_459581890765592_1761342367_n.jpg


So the idea was to take the first one, and redistribute all that foam over a lot more width, and less length. Actual finished dimensions are 5'4" x 20.75" x 2.3", again the thickness is hard to measure, but the other measures are to tighter tolerances this time.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548849_459581904098924_1741825286_n.jpg[img]

The template, plus the twin and trailer fin set I've been neglecting, and board #1.

[img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/418089_463078437082604_1998672549_n.jpg

This is a 2 lbs/cu ft density eps blank, less dense than board #1's core, and a different material. I live close to the place that sells this stuff, but they keep them in halves for easier/cheaper shipping. It's glued together with gorila glue, as the glass will be taking most of the stresses later on. EPS shapes quicker.

64037_463199637070484_737425659_n.jpg


High tech load transfer/distribution and compression system. I also made that longboard on the left in the background.

541699_463700650353716_1658804863_n.jpg


Outline cut, diamond tail to shorten the rail line even more, my garage is messy. Blocky nose, cause, why not? Maybe it won't dive as easily, maybe it will.

74919_463700653687049_1752316923_n.jpg


Rails foiled and checked with lighting. A proper shaping shack has a specific light setup to check this, but I lack such a setup.

385284_466091966781251_449244044_n.jpg


Futures boxes routed in, nothing was permanent at this stage, just a test for the photo. I'm gonna try using a center fin this summer.

148953_467462283310886_1977524043_n.jpg


Graphics testing, black acrylic paint under teal resin. I'm gonna be known the kind on the teal board eventually, and have a garage full of them by the time I'm 50.

421011_467462289977552_1466023553_n.jpg


Stripes taped off.

602682_467591609964620_1056203102_n.jpg


Intentionally distressed paint job. The old dudes at swaylocks hate this for some reason.

400009_467591616631286_1580901081_n.jpg


The bottom.

2014_469737819749999_784635696_n.jpg


Rocker shot, much curvier this time. I flipped the nose to keep it out of the water, but kept it rather mellow until the very end of the tail. I'm hoping the center fin and increased width will make up for the thrust and speed lost from increased rocker.

73553_477603025630145_1681394587_n.jpg


Didn't use enough pigment on the bottom, fuuuuuuu. And I laminated one of my hairs into the board. Now it's really mine. 6oz on bottom.

25963_478855745504873_1263810914_n.jpg


One resin cure later, laying out the glass on the top. Glassing done indoors with epoxy, 6oz and 4oz s cloth on top.

734059_478855755504872_1017590266_n.jpg


More pigment this time, my not so sanded laps from the bottom are visible, but whatever, I don't have an angle grinder.

483758_482559725134475_400410630_n.jpg


Hotcoat, watch the fingerprints please.

480831_482559588467822_1183678271_n.jpg


Fin boxes aren't full of resin, this is a good thing.

299730_494996337224147_970734122_n.jpg


Rocker shot again, center of mass appears to be behind the geometric center.

575740_505475596176221_1706459946_n.jpg


Came home for spring break. Hotcoated the bottom yesterday, I made a messy border of dark teal to make the transition to light teal look better. I was going for that look anyway, right? Dug out the fin boxes too, they all work properly. You can see the styrene monomer next to my other markings between the fins.

Now I'm going to add more glass to the top, which will involve a lot of sanding. I figured since I decreased the core density more than I increased the strength of the skins, I should add more. Plus it weighs very little, so another layer of glass won't hurt. I don't want it to look like a golfball and I want to learn aerials this season. I can do fs 360s on a skateboard, why not do it in the water? Plus ti's so short, even added weight won't result in much added swing weight.

FInal dims are 5'4" x 20.75 x 2.3" ish, it's way more symmetric and just cooler looking than #1

 
If you can make me a double sided 60 inch black dildo with pulsating veins I'll pay for 2 surfboards (you dont have to make them, but ill pay you for them)
 
Thats wicked man. Ive been thinking about doing this for a while now, but making a wake surf instead.
 
Yuuuuusssss the thread has been made. Looks unreal. I wish I had waves nearby... How long until you'll be able to start surfing this season?
 
How much total $ do you have into a single board. Im trying to find somewhere i can buy foam blanks from, any ideas? Im gonna try to make like a 6' really thick fish for new england waves. Also, in blanks is the middle stringer built in or do you do that yourself? And what tools do you find most effective for shaping?
 
564676_505782096145571_1567887864_n.jpg


Leash plug hole drilled, almost hit the fin box.

The stringer comes with that blank. I get my stuff from greenlight surf supply, it's in NJ, so they're probably a good source for the east coast. I suck at keeping track of cost, but you could totally do it for 300 or less, I think, depends on how large the board is, cause larger boards need more resin and glass. That's if you have some tools.

I'll be in the water whenever it gets around 55 degrees and it's not 40 degree air temps, probably may, but I'll be at school until the middle of may anyway so whatever.
 
What weight glass are you using with what epoxy? This thread made me get excited for surfing and im probably going to start ordering all my supplies today haha
 
6oz bottom, which ended up getting two hotcoats for extra durability. Top is a layer of 6oz and one of 4oz s cloth, and I'm about to add another layers of 4oz s cloth to the top cause the board is pretty light.

This Eps is a bit softer than pu due to the density difference, so you can get away with more glass.
 
Loving the shape and design of that twin fin. I've been looking to get a similar shape for the mushy days out here in socal. Where do you usually surf?

I've been surfing my 6'3 thruster at Huntington and Doheny lately, any LA/SD area Newschoolers out there?
 
Epic man! Right on.

I need some help with my board! It has glasses on fins and one of them tore up, but not completely off. Do you know of anyways to go about that to fix it?

Thanks
 
I'm in central nj, so obviously I get barrels in 80 degree water all day. I might just end up riding this new one as a twin, I haven't rode a board with a center fin in a while.

I'd see your local shop/shaper about a glass on issue. He may be able to reattach it without tearing the whole fin off. Either you'd have to rebuild the glass holding it on, or tear it off, sand the fin a lot and redo the whole glassing on process. What kind of fin is it? Like a huge single fin or something else?

 
604155_506124346111346_1952643546_n.jpg


So I threw another layer of 4oz s cloth on top, don't need this to have massive craters after 5 waves. I'm going back to school tomorrow, so the plan is to feather the edges you can see in the bottom left, then hotcoat, then when that's pretty much dry finish up the bottom, then finish the top. Then the waiting begins, the water is cold this year.
 
Resin in a hot water bath.
524012_506161166107664_848398448_n.jpg


644279_506161276107653_161058470_n.jpg


FInal hotcoat, it cleared up and doesn't look like that anymore. Now all it needs is final sanding, and I'm gonna try a coat of polycryllic, that stuff goes on smoothly usually.
 
Love it, gald to see the East Coast surfers reppin. There is nothing like surfing. Skiing is awesome, but somehow surfing is just a whole other level.
 
Damn this is so awesome! I tried surfing a few weeks ago and it was so much fun! I wish I lived close to a coast so I could do it regularly!
 
There's like no photos of me surfing. And I probably won't get to ride this new one for a while.

The rails are a bit strange, when I was shaping this one I tried to get them thinner than last time but then I just stopped to avoid over shaping it. I did intend for high volume 50/50 style rails up front, it's a summer board/ small wave design.
 
So wait, do you buy your boards blanks like this, or do you cut this profile yourself? If you're buying them like this, have you thought about cutting your own profiles out with a hotwire? Me and my dad do a lot of that for building foam r/c plane wings, and seriously, it's easy if you've ever thought about it.
 
People do buy block foam and hotwire it. The place I get this stuff actually made themselves a cnc type hotwire machine so they can do custom blanks. But most people don't, blanks come with what they call a natural rocker (unless you get something else) and you modify that. That's what I do.

Anyway, mega bump. It's winter shortboard time. 5'6"x19"x2.25 stringerless 2lb eps, s glass on top, carbon stringer on the bottom, getting fancy this time. On to the photos.

1521396_631743010216145_1269740921_n.jpg


1518290_631743063549473_33462355_n.jpg


Another high tech glue up, note the absence of the stringer this time.

944808_631742946882818_699861381_n.jpg


1517597_634475973276182_1969680306_n.jpg


1538929_634475959942850_1623518957_n.jpg


Trying to foil rails in bad light. They're quite nice now though.

1532075_634475989942847_1540931295_n.jpg


Nearly done shaping, needs fin boxes and a final inspection before I glass it.

Planning for some neon stripes, I hope the 80s are still cool.
 
I love surfing but skiings more my thing so when my board got destroyed i really didnt have any spare money to spend on a board. I always wanted to try making boards but expensive if you mess up. Props tho looks sweet
 
120lbs, I'm 5'5", so yeah... That second one I made floats me really, really well. This is targeted at waves where I don't need the help, although if I don't get in better shape I might. The 5mm suit is kicking my ass. I've never had a board where I sink a lot, like most people do on an hpsb.
 
How do you like painting with Acrylic? I know some of the ski builders guys use it on the bonded side of topsheets for their graphyics. I might have to try it some time, but I'm definitely worried about de-lams.
 
I use it more like a foam stain. I'd imagine if you put like a solid inch thick layer of paint your resin adhesion would suck. I dilute mine with a tiny bit of water. The black stripe one is fine, and it's seen everything from hot sun to 45 degree water.

What would it be, paint on top of glass then top sheet stuff? I've painted between glass and hot coat before, but it was those structures in the op, nothing huge enough to cause an issue.
 
The paint goes directly onto the bonding (internal) side of the topsheet, so the painted side would be sticking to the top layer of glass. Then it won't rub off or get scratched up or anything. It really become a part of the ski,
 
Yeah I have no idea. You'd have to ask somebody who knows about skis more than myself. I believe it's better to use water based than oil based paints. I've done water based with no issues on these.

Anyway, on to photos. Ghetto fin layout device to lay out fins. Sides 11.5" up, .25" toe in, back 3 inches up. Boxes go in when I feel like it.

1527115_634538526603260_683417453_n.jpg


1532150_634971529893293_809380661_n.jpg


Apparently I shot this with a potato. Got some paint on, cafe racer inspired numbering. 03 for my third board. The stripe in the center is actually the same size, I guess lens distortion is making the others look longer? I measured.
 
skimboards that are foam have higher density foam cores and are usually mostly carbon. The bottom is obviously not fiberglass or anything. I'm not sure what the bottom is honestly. HDPE or something.
 
The bottom of all the foam core boards i've seen are glass too, no plastics. I think they just use a heavier weight cloth to make it stronger and more durable.
 
really? hmm. skim companies never really says how there stuff is made since there's only a handful of them who are dedicated to intense skimboarding.
 
really? just about every single company will tell you in the description what their boards are made of. it took me 40 seconds to find that victoria's poly board is made with a 3/4" tapered high density pvc core and glassed with e-glass; db's EP pro board is made with an hpl base and topsheet with a 5-ply maple core; and exile's Dude! Cruise board is made with a 5/8" pvc core glassed with s-glass.

google is your friend
 
I was gonna surf this morning, but I noticed that my blue single fin had two holes in the back. So I decided it was time to mix up some resin instead.

1486548_637030089687437_224944535_n.jpg


Ding repair and fin box install on the new one.

1560644_637089756348137_1250862400_n.jpg


Pre resin. The carbon makes an excellent racing stripe and goes well with the cafe racerish theme. And prevents my board from snapping in half, which is also cool.

1510961_637079649682481_1900644394_n.jpg


Post resin shot.

Waves are coming, it's gonna be super cold.
 
I live like 45 minutes from greenlight, they're awesome dudes and they'll get you everything you need. They even helped me save a bit of money during my first time buying stuff.
 
Yeah it's a fun thing to do, plus you can make exactly what you're after, or close enough to that anyway for your first few. It's cool to throw it in the water and watch it not explode or sink or something. I got barreled on the first wave I rode on the first board I shaped, only for like half a second until I got swallowed up but still...

1510870_637180183005761_1243949127_n.jpg


Anyway, 3x 4oz s cloth on top. Should be fairly dent resistant. I wrapped all the glass around the rails to create some sort of parabolic frame to keep the blank strong. Rails have 18oz of glass on them now. If some noob drops in on me, his board will like be destroyed while mine laughs it off.
 
So anyway... Waves are coming, this thing is done and ready for testing.

9101_642796732444106_506413089_n.jpg


Curvier rocker than any other board I've done. Thinly foiled tail, kept some more volume through the middle and nose. The rocker is still not potato chip status, but it's curvy.

1601099_642796729110773_1943720230_n.jpg


Fluoro orange paint cause I will never have a plain white board.

1012012_642796722444107_279330636_n.jpg


Cafe racer inspired paint job. Pretty normal, but slightly shorter and wider hpsb outline. Nice blocky tail cause wide tails are fun.

Final specs are 5'5"x19"x2.25". It's a bit taller than I am.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top