So my girlfriend’s birthday is coming up in October… besides telling her I’d buy her cooler weather, I poped the idea of a new cf surfboard to her. She loved the idea and wants one. She grew up in So.Cal where she learned to surf.
So i have no problem making her one… I think it will be a fun project. I want to use a foam blank, clear surfboard resin, and a colored hybrid cloth. I was thinking black cf but sharks may think it’s a seal.
Any recomendations for which resin to use to laminate the 6oz fiberglass cloth ( 1st layer) to the polystyrene blank?
Also how do i go about attaching the fins to the board?
edit:
Ok I found some good info on board building… I almost can’t believe these board builders use only one or two layers of fiberglass cloth over the foam board.
There are like 4 types of foam blanks available:
Bio-Foam Blanks
Polyurethane Foam Blanks
Green Polyurethane Foam Blanks ( recycled polyurethane)
Polystyrene Blanks
Girlfriend wants something green so we will go with biofoam or recycled urethane. The price is the same for all four types… +/- 5 dollars.
Instead of using fiberglass we want to use hybrid fiberglass-carbon cloth- we have some pink we have here. Probably still use the standard 6oz pw fiberglass cloth to wrap the rails ( edges ) with black or pink dyed resin. Red and White dye… i haven’t seen premixed pink anywhere.
I found companies that sell “fin boxes” … you simply route out the rectangular holes for the premade plastic fin box. wrap the finbox with fiberglass cloth 4 times and insert it into the foam board… fill in the excess space with resin mixed with microbaloons (do not fill in the fin box iteslf). Trim and sand it all smooth without damaging the board.
Since I don’t want to go traditional with painting the foam blank with a design… i will paint over the carbon fiber then just clear resin over the paint design, wet sand smooth, and buff to a gloss finish.
It won’t be UV resistant but I don’t think boards are made to be uv resistant anyways from the way i’ve watched and read they are made. The boards are made to flex some so painting it … who knows may crack the paint? If a board builder wants color they usually dye the resin. Graphics are placed under the final clear layer of resin from what i could tell.
I would like to do a write up with photos on the whole thing.
Boards have short wood inserts that get routed into the foam and glassed in place to stiffen the board in the right places. The fin is screwed into the finbox after the board is finished.
Some people glass the fin onto the board. I’m not sure exactly how they do this but i saw some fiberglass rope for sale for doing this. I think I prefer the fin box method.
Fins, the modern ones, are made of composites and honeycomb core… One site was selling these for $87 for one fin. I’d just make my own probably; unless I’m feeling lazy or have too much other work to do i will buy one. The leash cup is also routed out of the foam/fiberglass board and glassed in. Or you can buy a 3m brand stick on leash that uses waterproof durable stick on adhesive to the finished board. They also weigh less than doing a built in leash cup, and cost only $5.
I’m looking at around $300 for all the materials and supplies. Not bad seeing the same board could cost $1100 retail at a surf shop.
http://www.foamez.com/glassing-surfboards-pigments-tints-c-3_34.html