my home depot board

Very nice man... A lot of people talk about doing things like this, but you actually did!

 

awesome write up, can only hope for more stuff like this on the forum. great stuff!

 

how hard was it to keep both sides of the board symmetrical?

 

http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?id=1566305730&aid=147054

I did this a month ago with NJ shaper Tom Mahady for my grad project for HS. He taught and guided me through all the steps and for my first board it turned out amazing. Rides so well and it is pretty to even look at. Its a hell of alot of work and it makes you appreciate and respect the 600-800 dollar boards. I reccomend trying it.

Or....Get a board custom made from Tom Mahady because he knows his stuff.

 

If you use the same template on both sides of the board (lined up with the stringer) to cut the outline, symmetry isnt a problem. Especially if you cut just outside the line you drew, and then use sandpaper on a block of 2x4 wood to sand back to the line and smooth out little irregularities in the sawing.

 

Good job, this is the best thread

 

To be sure

One thing building your own board will give you, a real appreciation of what goes into the retail boards that we buy. Interesting that I chose that same color combo (Blue/Green) when I tried making a board back in 1967. It was a really ugly attempt at a Nat Young water displacement hull design. Maybe I'll have to drag it out of my attic and take a picture of it.

Then again, I don't think I need that kind of personal flagellation.

I actually cut down an old pop-out board and attempted both a surfboard, and a belly board (Boggie Boards hadn't been invented yet, and single fin short boards were just being experimented with.)

 

very cool thread. I learned a lot and it was quite entertaining to go through your thread while I"m supposed to be working.

 

what did it cost you?

 

Congrats on your first board build! You have the right attitude and dont hold it against urself about the delamming. I have worked in the industry a long time and even major labels have that problem and STILL are, even with vent plugs. It is something that seems hit or miss and hasnt been ironed out . You will find the PU much more stable. Dont give up on the eps though cause it has come leaps and bounds over the past ten years, well actually the past five even. I prefer PU cause of the feel riding it but for those of you that like that eps, ur making it happen. This thread is what surfing is all about, comraderie, sharing, no ego, and all about the ride.

 

That's pretty awesome man. I tried to do that a few years ago, but the resin just ate through the foam I bought from Home Depot.

 

this is a little late but i love how u used elmers glue in the beginning i woulda thought gorilla or krazy glue.
but great thread man, i got a real kick out of it. id love to see the next project.

 

that type of foam (polystyrene) can only be glassed with epoxy. Polyester resin will melt polystyrene. When you hear of a board being epoxy, it is a generalized label. The main difference in the board is the foam core. They call them epoxies only because they are all glassed using epoxy because that is the only option.

 

Nice! At the barest minimum it looks pretty sweet

 

this thread needs to be stickied at the top of the page as the best thead ever on swellinfo

 

You said it!