I've decided I'm going to build a board

where are you gonna shape it? a garage i assume?

 

I've only made two boards, but the second came out much better than the first. I tried to make the first board be able to do to many things. It turned out too floaty to duckdive, and didn't turn real well. It catches crappy waves real good though (it's a 7'6" mini longboard). The second one shreds, duckdives, catches waves from waist to head high real good, and is a 6'4" fish. I would say before you shape it, figure out the exact type of waves and surfing you would like the board to excel at, and don"t try to make a board that can do everything.

 

It will teach you to never do it again. . .

 

good lighting is a must. you can be cheap and get 4' fluorescent fixtures (2) and tubes at walmart for 25 bucks total. then make some blinders to aim the light at your board. dark walls (blue) are best.

then you have to make racks. don't make those lame cement in a bucket racks, they move too much. take the time to make good ones. make em heavy. pm me and i'll send you a pic of some good shaping racks. easy and cheap to setup.

then you need tools. what do you have? check out harbor freight's website or craigslist a planer. a cheap planer will work fine since you've never done. then tons of other little tools.

you'll be in for a couple hundred at least just to get set up. then you have pay outrageous east coast (if thats where you are) prices for blanks, cloth, resin.

your stoked if you have 2 rooms to use. go for it.... but know, it's only worth it if you really dig in and set yourself up right. i have lots of extra shaping tools i don't use so PM me if your interested.

 

REALLY helps to have someone around that has done it before. Re-inventing the wheel is painful and often unnecessary.

 

you could pull alone if your ok with it mostly being a bunch of suffering at first. but having someone experienced would help a lot.

 

not the kind of lighting you need i bet. is it overhead... then no good. you have to have side lighting. saw horses? your kidding right? trust me...your wasting your time if you think that will work.

i'd clear that whole thing out if i were you. infact...post a pic of what it looks like right now.

 

Hey Cosby,
GO FOR IT!!
My buddy Mike and I have shaped several boards. No matter how it turns out, surfing your creation will make your day! I am by no means a pro and every time I look at my boards, I see things I need to do better. Especially when I compare them to professional shapers boards... I am actually making my first Pawlonia board from a tree I grew myself, actually, I have to call the kiln today to see if it is dry enough yet...

Your first call should be to Greenlight Surf Supply. Brian is super helpful and really good with answering the phone/email for questions. He has kits and everything to get you started. Make sure you get the vented leash plug he invented too. All your wood tools will work on foam for sure.

 

just go there and make a board. they have the setup you'll need. your seriously in way over your head if you have other stuff in the garage. just wait till you glass and sand. your whole house will stink bad if you use poly resin. it will look like it snowed in there after you sand. your neighbors will hate you too. think it through a little more and. just go to greenlight and pay for a lesson or whatever. safest bet and you'll be glad you did. just be ready to pay out the a$$ for materials. most expensive supply shop in the US!

 

no offense, but if you even have to ask... just go to greenlight and learn from them. at least for 1 board. trust me.

 

there are wants and needs here. All you really need is a blank, some time, and some basic hand tools. It would probably benefit you to spend $20 at home depot and throw together a proper shaping stand. Just 2x4's and a couple 5 gallon buckets really. We made mine completely out of scrap, there is a 5" diameter cast iron rod weighing it down to the floor...

 

or better yet, forget about shaping and go on a surf trip. if your not ready to do it right then don't do it at all. surf trip is more bang for your buck.

 

lol... go youtube shaping videos. you'll see what i mean. you HAVE to have a 4 point rack. not sawhorses.

or just do weird sh!t and waste your money on a turd.

 

a wood board kit might be more up your alley. easy to build, and lighting and all the other crap aren't as critical