The Biofoam Board Chronicles: Shaping

Working it over top and bottom:

Biofoam part 2 from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

Shaping the rails and finishing:

Biofoam part 3 from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

Next up - Art!

New Paddle

In Action:

Early Season South Swell from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

SUP Paddle

The bending jig used is actually for an iako (outrigger crossbeam). I’ve modified it for a nice double-bend. Since my last 2-ply paddle failed (see the video here) I used 4 laminations on this one; two lams of douglas fir in the interior and mahogany on the outside. Here is is just out of the jig:

From there, it’s a whole lot of hand-shaping with a small plane and a spokeshave. Here is some sequentials:

 

The blade is douglas fir with mahogany highlights. I made a temporary jig to glue up the “wings” on to the shaft.

I used the same blade template as the last paddle, as I really liked how it felt both paddling and surfing:

The blade was covered with glass set in epoxy:

 

 

From there, once the epoxy was dry, I sanded and filled with urethane, and she’s ready for her premiere.

My First West African Order

Found this one in the in-box:

From: Charles James
Sent: Wed 4/21/10 8:37 AM

Hello
With regarding you and your company,Am Charles James And I will like to know weather you do carry Planer Board do you have them TX-22 Special Planer Board in stock available for sale,for me to make a purchase of it. If yes i will appreciate alot cool let me know the size and the types as well as the prices arrange you have in your inventory plus sales tax Excluding Shipping & Handling Because it will be Picked Up and Shipped international to West Africa (Accra-Ghana) Do you accept credit card as a method of payment and what term?
Thank You

Wow, I'm fresh out of planer boards, Mr. James (or is it "prince James"?). I promise the next time I work up a batch of "TX-22" boards I'll make one for you. As soon as I get that $8000 bank draft from Ghana.

I may have to design a new shape called the "TX-22" as it is kind of a cool name...

The Biofoam Board Chronicles: Getting Started

The latest project is a BioFoam blank that I'm shaping with my daughter. Biofoam is "50% organic soy-based plant materials", which means it's a little easier on the environment than regular EPS blanks. It seems to shape well with hand tools; we'll see how it goes when I break out the planer this weekend. I've challenged the girls to come up with an art design for it. It will be glassed with epoxy and will primarily be a fun board for the girls to ride this summer.

The Biofoam Project: Chapter 1 from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

Super Sting Session

The Super Sting is designed after a mid-70's stinger, with modern rails, a concave-to-vee bottom and 1+2 fin setup. The result is a board that paddles easily and catches waves like a dream. The main fin is set forward making the board "pivoty" while still holding a good line when one's stance is mid-board. She's got a redwood bottom with mahogany details between the planks, and a bookmatched redwood deck with mahogany strip rails. The art on the bottom is based on an old French woodcut, and the deck has my "modified" Loiselle coat-of-arms (the three crosses on the shield are traditional, the mermaid, seahorse and shark are my own additions).

This video was shot with the new GoPro HD hero camera, which gets my highest recommendation.

What a beautiful spot. Life is beautiful.

Wood Longboard Sessions

The first wood board I made, using a Grain Surfboards interior frame. Heavier than necesary - I used thicker wood and two layers of glass on the deck - and it still rides like a dream.

Dawn Patrol 9 Jan from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

Surf for the New Year from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.