/r/surfboardshaping

Photograph via snooOG

Everything related to shaping your own board. Design, tools, tips and tricks.

Visit the WIKI to help answer your questions.

Welcome to r/surfboardshaping

This is a forum dedicated to the dying art of hand shaping your own surfboard. Be courteous and follow the general rules of humanity. More information and details can be found on our wiki.

Shaping Resources

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Surfboard Shaping Community

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/r/surfboardshaping

2,528 Subscribers

8

Happy Cakeday, r/surfboardshaping! Today you're 8

Let's look back at some memorable moments and interesting insights from last year.

Your top 1 posts:

0 Comments
2022/11/10
17:11 UTC

8

Happy Cakeday, r/surfboardshaping! Today you're 7

Let's look back at some memorable moments and interesting insights from last year.

Your top 1 posts:

8 Comments
2021/11/10
17:11 UTC

3 Comments
2020/11/10
17:00 UTC

48

( 6’5 x 20” x 3” ) Single Fin. Any tips for shaping, I’ve taken it down to 3” thick in the thickest part and the tail is just above 1” not sure if I should go any thinner in the middle? Maybe to 2.5”? And for the rails should I just do soft?

12 Comments
2020/04/21
07:14 UTC

21

Chined bottom, what a PITA. What’s the best way? Pressure and block? Planer?

8 Comments
2020/04/19
03:28 UTC

6

Quick question about tinting

If I am planning on doing a resin tint. Just one solid opaque color, do I have to do cut laps, or no?

This is my first time glassing a board so I don’t really know all of the rules here. Hahaha

Any good comprehensive videos on the topic?

7 Comments
2020/04/16
22:44 UTC

6

Question about glassed on fins

I'm thinking about trying to glass on fins for the first time. I have a general and perhaps dumb question as I think about buying some fins vs. making my own. As I'm doing some looking around I see fins that can be bought "pre-glassed" vs. "raw." I also see some build-your-own-fin tutorials that involve laminating the fin prior to attaching it to the board. My question is; if a fin is pre-glassed does that mean is does NOT need to be laminated to the board? With a pre-glassed fin do you just tack it on, apply roving, and then hot coat, or do you still use some cloth to laminate it to the board? It seems to me that a fin that is just attached using roving wouldn't be that strong, but maybe I'm wrong. Is pre-glassing a fin easier because it's easier to sand and finish the fin before putting it on the board? If a fin is pre-glassed, then would laminating it to the board create an unnecessarily thick layer of glass over the fin?

Any advise/explanations would be appreciated.

2 Comments
2020/04/15
19:10 UTC

49

Reached the dozen club - board #12

7 Comments
2020/04/15
17:30 UTC

7

Looking For More Information on resin!

Hey guys, i'm new to surf shaping but love surfing and am interested in shaping a 5'9" fish for some smaller summer fun. I've been taking notes and doing my research but was just curious as to what resin is best with a Marko foam Eps blank. Any help or additional info would be great. Hope everyone is doing well!

Thanks in advance!

13 Comments
2020/04/12
00:25 UTC

19

Hitachi P20SB

5 Comments
2020/04/09
02:26 UTC

53

Glassing bottom of board (epoxy/EPS)

6 Comments
2020/04/07
14:27 UTC

5

Shaping FCS 1 plywood twin fins

Hey guys, I’m in lockdown and took on a wee project to make a set of twin fins for my 6’8 egg (usually ride as a single but has quad FCS 1 plugs too). I’ve shaped the fins from ply, including the two tabs for the FCS 1 plugs. I figure I can get 3-4 layers of glass on each side, including the tabs.

I’m concerned the tabs still won’t be strong enough and they’ll just snap as soon as they load up. Do you think that’ll be enough glass to strengthen them, is there a better way? I’ve also thought of making a solid glass panel at the bottom and glassing that to the fin then cutting the tabs out - but essentially I’ll still have a join at the base of the fin which will be a weaker point?

Ideally I’d glass em on but I’d rather not in case they suck.

Ply Fins

3 Comments
2020/04/06
20:27 UTC

3

Blank off-gassing and hazards associated with foam

Anyone know for a fact what gasses are used to blow us blank foam? I’m guessing methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). See this post: https://www.swaylocks.com/forums/cyanide-gas

Just caught some serious shit from someone from California who knew a lot of shapers over the years and was adamant that shaping PU is so toxic that it can only be practiced over a short period of time before cancer is inevitable. Of course no surf mag touches this topic.

It appears that the off gassing can expose one to organic vapors, which would be main hazard. Depends which gases one is exposed to. This could be mitigated by use of PPE of course.

12 Comments
2020/04/06
04:18 UTC

7

Feeling overwhelmed choosing dimensions

Hey guys,

I'm looking to shape my first board and i've decided to go with a fish, but deciding on dims has been a killer.

A little info on me, I'm 5'10, ~145 lbs, I'm currently on a 6'8 Firewire Submoon (37L) and can bottom turn and ride down the line but beyond that i'm a kook. I'm looking for something with decent paddle power/ wave watching ability that I can also duck dive (I can barely duck dive with my sub moon). I know these are contrasting features so I guess I'm looking for a happy medium.

Any advice on dims and general outline would be much appreciated. Stay safe out there.

Edit: Grammar and added details

4 Comments
2020/04/04
23:58 UTC

8

Murdered plug holes while removing the plugs ... what do I do....dont have a dremel :(

13 Comments
2020/03/31
20:15 UTC

7

home shaping bays at rented houses

Has anyone had any success with setting up a shaping/glassing bay in on a property they were renting to live at? For example, like a residential house with a garage? I'm looking to move into a new place, and wondering if this is really a good idea at all...I know most leases have a provision about not using the space for commercial purposes (which I'm technically not, at least not yet). My plan was to rent a place that has a garage or shed in the backyard, or a place where I can set up a shed in the backyard. This is preferred over renting an industrial warehouse and actually just living in the warehouse. Any real world success stories of this? Can you share your pictures?

4 Comments
2020/03/30
02:16 UTC

26

Hollow woody - timber surf co. 5’9” 19” 2.375” thruster

4 Comments
2020/03/29
17:07 UTC

5

There’s worse places to be on lockdown

0 Comments
2020/03/28
16:58 UTC

19

Where I got too before lock down

4 Comments
2020/03/28
12:55 UTC

43

More on the fish. 5’7x203/4”x21/2”

13 Comments
2020/03/26
01:19 UTC

57

Latest twin fin creation

31 Comments
2020/03/25
02:45 UTC

19

Fin setup

6 Comments
2020/03/24
20:02 UTC

13

Little experiment I’ve been working on..

1 Comment
2020/03/24
20:01 UTC

26

Board # 5. 6’1 x 21.5 x 2.5 a fish for a friend and first time doing a resin tint.

11 Comments
2020/03/24
19:21 UTC

27

Board #16, Probably my best shape to date. Pretty happy with it. I learned I don’t like pin lines (don’t look too close haha) 5’7 x 20”x 2 1/2” love to hear your thoughts!

12 Comments
2020/03/20
06:11 UTC

36

Coronavirus safety? How about isolating myself in the shaping bay while wearing a cartridge mask?

2 Comments
2020/03/19
15:47 UTC

0

Need Fins for a 1978 G&S twin fin surfboard

I am restoring a vintage surfboard that someone gave me. And g&s from what im told makes their own fins.

5 Comments
2020/03/17
16:30 UTC

5

Rail profile templates

0 Comments
2020/03/16
02:23 UTC

33

Asym.

10 Comments
2020/03/15
04:16 UTC

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