Marlon's Board - Step 2

Skinning the blank.

I got him on the planer also (so it is not all me building this board)!

Getting Back on the "Horse"

It's been a while since I have shaped anything.  Most things I've been working on recently have been repairs or modifications.  Well - that changed today.  I have been rearranging the garage to get the tools into an area that is more conducive for using.  With that completed, I broke out the new bench sander and shaped the front hydrofoil wings I templated out (unfortunately a while back now).

The Porter Cable sander was strong and removed wood easily.  It still took some time because of the large size of the wing, but I got the three wings ready for detail sanding.

Tomorrow I'll try and get the struts and fuselages rough sanded.

Committing to the Cut

I still had some sunlight when I got home from work on Friday. I figured I could get the hole for the mast track block cut out of the board, and maybe even work the first epoxy and fiberglass layers. I was able to get the hole cut out - it took longer than I thought because when I made the deep passes with the router, the waste material ended up flying everywhere - looked like a snow flurry hit. It has been awhile since I used the router - I forgot about the vacuum hose attachment. Here is the finished hole. On Saturday I'll fine tune it with a file/microplane and get the epoxy work done. In all honesty, there was still a small part of me that didn't want to make this cut. Knowing my OCD will kick in, perfection will be the goal and that means a lot of time - and less fishing and paddling. But it isn't everyday (actually every year) that you rip the deck pads off your board. And the rubber cement I'm using the put the pad back down works better than the 3M adhesive sheets - a least it becomes extremely difficult to get the pad up without ripping it. So here I am - drilling, cutting and routing my way to a commitment to enhance the versatility of the Hooked SUP (and the opportunity to drag trolling lures under sail). It'll all be worth it....

Boxes in...

I FINALLY got the boxes into the board. Work has been crazy busy again (and will be for the next couple of weeks), so it has been slow going on the boards.

Among the many issues consuming time - a proper jig for the center box. 3/4" Ply with sandpaper grip on the bottom. That coupled with a template follower and a 1/2" bit that is 2" long and the box is getting cut!!!

So back to the board - I ran out of epoxy (Resin Research), so I went over to Foam, Fins and Fiberglass today to pick up another 1.5 gallon set. If you are in SOCAL and haven't been to this shop (they just moved from Main to Thompson) then shame on you. Lots of character in this place - you don't get the "they're trying to sell me something" feeling in here like you do in some other shops. Their board building supplies get you interested, but the eclectic boards and cool threads keeps you interested. Check them out if you are passing through the area.

I'll be hotcoating the board on Sunday. Getting closer!!!

Great tools

I have grown to love tools (what person in their right mind doesn't?)! Even if you don't think you love tools, you just haven't opened your eyes wide enough. La has tools galore! Anything you need to sew - even a very smart sewing machine (so smart it feints injury so it doesn't have to work - I got to try that sometime).

One of my newest is this electric scissors from Black and Decker. This things cuts through fiberglass like it was tissue paper!

The best tool I have ever had is this DeWalt Random Orbital Palm Sander. I bought it somewhere on Oahu back in 1997 when I started playing with fiberglass (to modify a Gerry Lopez 6'0" surfboard into a kiteboard - but that's a couple of different stories). I've used it on every surfboard shaping and repair job I have done since then. I would have trouble counting all of them, but I suspect the repair jobs number somewhere above 100 (I don't turn down opportunities to work on someone else's boards either) and the shaping is up past ten now (other people's stuff counted too). I've had to change out the backing pad on this thing 4 times now - and it still won't quit!!!!

In time I know this will go the way of social security and medicare (BROKEN), but when it does, it will only be immortalized in my own personal hall of fame!!!

Anyways - time to get off the computer and get some sleep.

Microplane Equipped ROS

Well here it is -

The label on the package said "Prepare to love sanding again".

Well, I never got to the point where I didn't love sanding to begin with, so this actually made me love sanding even more!!!

Seriously - if you own a ROS - you need one of these. The catch bag on my DeWalt fills up so quick and the cutting time is greatly reduced.

I love sanding!!!