[Woody_waverider]

want to shape your own board then take it out into the wave?

I've found learning to shape, especially starting out can be a frustrating process,
I've spent months researching technique, resourcing materials, trying to get useful information,

Speaking with established shapers you would think that it was a secret socierty,
every one's sooo vauge, you have to make half your tools, there's only one book
that goes in to detail and that's a bit out dated now (still uses glassed on fins)
and only list suppliers in japan and the USA!

Well I've just found a great company on the web that I thought I would share
with you all: www.homeblown.co.uk

I found it while i was researching the 'echo' board that was produced
out of eden anyone thinking of shaping a board should check this site out first.

If any one has some useful tips, or similar resources don't be mean share the info.
I really like the idea of making my own 'echo board' if pos.

cheers Woody.

[ivanmcp]

Hey Woody,

Nice to read your post and all the enthusiasm you have. It reminded me of myself some years ago, when I developed an itch to build a board myself. And yes, it was very frustrating, as there was a distinct lack of information on how to do it. I ordered some material from Amazon.com and gathered a number of resources from the internet. But when you actually start building it, the only way to learn it properly was by trial and error. I still have my first board that I have built, and its funny to see how one can advance rapidly by the time board number 15 was built. I took my last board (mini-mal) to Graham Bunt of Local Hero Surfboards and also to Seabase for them to check it out, and I got nothing but praise. Nowadays, some years on, I still can't believe that I have actually built that board with real cloth stripe, FCS fins etc.

I did promise earlier this year that I was going to show some photos of my efforts, and also publish a guide on how to do it - from my own experience. Well, Seabase Ltd. has agreed to let me base my article on their own guide, but I will edit the bits that I found were difficult to understand by a beginner. I should publish it over next several weeks, since my uni coursework deadline is set for this Friday - so good times are ahead for festive season.

In the meantime, please let me know if you need any questions answered, or in need of some widom , as I've traveled that road before.

[Woody_waverider]

Yer I was going through the old posts and was wondering if that would happen.
I've wanted to start shaping for about a year, but couldn't give it any real consideration as I didn't have a space and nor did any of my mates.

Last July I move, and now have a large summer house at the end of the garden, as soon as the weather improves I’ve rope a few friends into helping me turn it in to a workshop.
In the mean time I plan to do further research, resource and start tooling up.

I know it's a long rd, but I realised that shaping is what I really want out of live, and I've got the motivation, determination an patients to see it through. In fact I get more and more stoked with every small step closer to I take. I've always thought that a life spent chasing a dream, even if that dream is never fulfilled is better than living with a regret of never having at least tried.

I'm really excited about this project (can you tell?) I do have a question though, its about the Clark surform, all the info I've got so far describes this tool, from what I can gather it's a special router with a barrel drum blade for carving the concave on the deck to the nose and the bevel cuts on the deck to the rails. It comes with quite a hefty price tag though, and although I very committed to learning to shape, I'm reluctant to shell out for one straight away for my first board.

Can you tell me if it’s is absolutely necessary, I've heard that some shapers use as Japanese wood plane, I've seen them on sale from seabase for £44.00, which I could probable just about afford at a push. Or could a large spoke shave do the job for about £25.00

If you can't get away with out a surform tool any idea's where I could get a second hand one from, shaping being the back art that it is I imagine they are ritualistically disposed of so they cant fall into the wrong hands! Ha.

Basically I'm looking to set out on 'the rd' travelling light, with the bare min of equipment I need to make my first board, then as I make more but more advances/industrial tool, hopefully after a number of years honing the craft I will have my shaper's eye.

Thanks Ivan I look forward to reading your post.

[Woody_waverider]

Ok so shaper's bay has been a bit on the quite side while I've been away, thought I'd just keep this post updated before Xmas, Phase #1 reasearch and resourcing now complete, I've now collected more than enough info to get me started and been in touch with some pro shapers based in the Usa, Canada and Oz who have been more than helpful in giving me a seemingly endless supply of knowlege and tips, need to take some time to absorbe it all coz I feel a bit wired with info,

The next step it to set up my shaping/glassing rooms, the work shop is going to take a bit of time but will hopefully be set up ready to rock by march, (weather allowing) most materials and tools have now been sourced (about enough for 4-5 boards) and will be ordered to coinside with the finish workshop (bank ballance allowing)

As I've staid in my prev post I was frustrated with how uk shappers we reluctant to give any info to appriaring shappers, and this feels like runnung in to brick walls for a novice. I was Inspired by Bert Burger who published his process of vac bag sandwich construction, which at the time was a industry gaurded secret that bert had been doing for over 15 year. So if there are any apirering shapper I would be more than happy to share what I have learnt or point you in the right direction to get what you need.

I will try to keep this post updated about once a month to let every one know how it's going and answer any questions.

and I'll post some pictures of my frist run of boards too ,

[ivanmcp]

Hi Woody,

Glad to hear you are getting some major info on the subject of board building. I can not find images I have taken of my board building efforts (they are very bad quality anyway), but I will try again. My computer dest and shelves are in need of major tidying up, so I hope I can fish them out then.

As I've staid in my prev post I was frustrated with how uk shappers we reluctant to give any info to appriaring shappers, and this feels like runnung in to brick walls for a novice.

I think I know why this is, but I will leave it to you to find out for yourself - as soon as you create few boards, it might become obvious.

In a meantime, here is SeaBase guide on how to build your board, so find it attached below.

By the way, here is my recommendation: John Carper's "Glassing 101" video or dvd is an excellent resource for what is the most difficult process in board manufacture - at least for me. There are other titles in the series, like shaping and airbrushing.

Amazon: ($30) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/1930215037
Shaping Videos: ($30) http://www.surfingvideos.com/shaping_room.htm
Fiberglass Supply: ($25 vhs - $27 DVD) http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Prod...svideocat.html

Check for delivery price, or try ebay or uk surf shops.

I would love to hear how you are getting on, and any images would be great.

[Woody_waverider]

Thanks again,

I wish I knew you could get the 101 series from amazon I tried there first but couldn't get hold of them, I ended up spending $47 for them to be sent from America by air mail. any Idea where I can get my hands on a copy of the masters series?
Thanks for the sea base guild, that anther one I've been trying to get hold of, I thought it was only supplied with their kits. here are a few more though I would recomend cross referencing several guilds as there are lots of different techniques to use depending on how far you want to take it some guilds are hard to understand at first and having several dif explanations really helps put things in perspective.

http://surfspot.co.uk/diy_surfboard_kits.htm

www.surfersteve/intrduction.htm

Sorry tried to attach a few more guilds but the files are too large to up load,

I think the reason pro shapes don't give advise that often to novices is they are probably tired of answering lots of stupid questoins that seem obvious to them and they don't have the time to spend setting you straight as there's no quick answer and these questions display a lack of knowlege that would require and indepth and long explanation, I don't blame them atall and are tequniques that you can only learn through actually doing them and your right I probably will be like that after I've made that many board too. but I've also really appriciated all the people that have taken the time to help me ( esp bert, ben and kolcia) and hopefully I can motivate a few others who have wanted to get started but been put off.

look foward to seeing you pictures also, It's great seeing picture of board that other people have made, just to realise whats possible. I don't know why but I alway feel proud of people who make their own board I think its a respect thing.

[dude]

I was looking into shapeing about 2 years ago still really intrested but cant really afford to start at the moment in time

Hows it going? Have you started on your first board yet?

[Woody_waverider]

Thanks for asking, and sorry it's taken a while to get back to you,

I hear what your saying, my wallet is hemaraging cash at the moment, just got a few more power tool, and some blanks on the way, I've got to go to Seabase and pick up yet more materials.

The workshops more or less finished now a few small jobs left to do here and there, then to start work on shapping and glassing stands, and a few other tools and what not.

[Shawn]

Dont know if its of any help but at our factory in S/W france we have a spare shaping room which is hired by the hour. and if needed a shaper to assist you

we can also supply all the materials needed
and can post them if you want to do it yourself
even send you out a computer preshape to start you off

contact us if you want more info
utopiasurf@wanadoo.fr

[dude]

Any updates Woody?

[brooksy]

yeh i wanted to look into shaping just after i got my first board ( about a year ago) i took all the information off homeblown too but never had the tools time and especially money which will now be even harder to get now im starting to drive although that is my ticket to lots more surfing

[Woody_waverider]

Cheers for cheeking the post.

Kooooool - I know the feeling, I've not made as much progress as I was hopping when I started out, but it take a long time, I try to do what I have to when I have to and what I can, when I can. I've spent the last few months in the water so cant complain, the way I see it is as long as I'm making any progress or learning new things thats ok, after all its a life long persuit so I'd rather enjoy it that rush things. The ideas already there so one day I hope it happens for you.

look back and see how far you have come, look forward and see how much there is still to experience.

Dude - just put the finishing touches to a tool to cast the tabs on fins and when I get some money to buy some more resin and some marine ply, I'll be turing out a batch of sick wooden fins.
also trying to cut a deal on a batch of stickers, I'll need to buy a heater for the bay if I want to carry on through the winter as the resing doesn't like ther cold aand goes gluppy

try to attache a some photos of the bay and my decal I took a few months back

[greenfish]

why do shapers hide/keep things secret? usually because they can't explain them, or are afraid of losing their jobs.

as someone who has worked in the industry in california, and now brazil, i find that only the guys who are unsure of themselves, or have some fear of educated customers won't share information with someone who wants to learn.

from my point of view, sharing ideas, technique, and other information is what is acutally missing in the surf industry these days. which, if i may say, is why so many people are buying cheap, popout asian built boards, or just the wrong board all together for their ability. i was lucky enough to work in factories with very talented shapers - some legendary - and i was never denied information. you sometimes have to decipher the meaning of things, as surfboard design is VAGUE in and of itself. out of 10 shapers, no one does things exactly the same...

as has been said, the best way to learn, get the blank, and go for it. that's how i, and most people learn. it's like anything, you learned to walk by trying it right? and, from my opinion, it is actually part of the process to build your own tools. how else do you know what you need? there isn't a home depot for surfboards, just yet anyway. most of them are very basic. i made my first board with a planer, and a few blocks of wood, and sand paper.

don't be afraid, just take your time. check yourself frequently, and if you get frustrated, do what i do, walk away, have a beer, surf whatever, then go back to it. take all day if you like.

shaping is fun, and basically easy. blanks have a good rocker built in already these days, and that is the hardest thing to get right.

anyway, i better end this book, but i will be moving out that way this spring, and setting up a shop, hopefully. feel free to come by anytime, and as long as i am not swamped(doubtful, lol) i'll give you some pointers.

take care, and by all means have some fun!