Hand shaping a Mini Simmons surfboard blank! - Mini Sims Part 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ต.ค. 2024
- Using only Hand tools I shape an EPS surfboard blank that I made for a 5'0" x 22" Mini Sims. This board is going to be a twin fin with Furture fin boxes but I will most likely end up surfing finless most of the time.
I am by no means an expert when it comes to shaping surfboards, I just like making my own boards and trying out different ideas to see what works. I'm on the constant hunt for something different that will surf the way I want to surf. This Mini Sims is based off another homemade surfboard I made that is 6'0 x 23.75", it has a similar bottom but is different at the same time. For this new surfboard, I wanted to go off what I liked in my other mini sims. But I wanted to tweak it into a smaller size that I could throw around a bit more. I also want this one to be able to surf backwards off the nose better so I added in some channels in the nose to hopefully add in more drive. I also left the nose with hard edges so that it will also give it a little more release to hopefully improve speed when surfing backwards. For the tail, I went with straight channels over the curved channels I had in my 6'0" mini sims because with the narrower tail I shouldn't need the extra help turning the board. The tail shape is also different I went with a square tail over the bat tail in hopes it will improve the way the board catches waves in smaller conditions. The deck I shaped in a single concave so that it would give my feet something to grip on and push-off, to help make shovits easier and hopefully open doors to new tricks. The concave in the deck is also to experiment more with surfing the board upside down. This board will be airbrushed and be glassed with double 6oz fiberglass on top and bottom using West System epoxy resin. I'm adding an extra layer to the bottom in hopes that it will be more durable when I surf it upside down and ding less when surfing super shallow.
Tools and supplies I use:
Surform long: amzn.to/3C0RIhr
Surform short: amzn.to/3qorL9q
6" Random Orbital Sander/Polisher: amzn.to/3wu868Q
3m Dual Cartridge Respirator: amzn.to/3Ec9aB0
West systems Epoxy: amzn.to/2UF0Dp9
Reusable stir sticks: amzn.to/3kILNIG
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Watching this for inspiration while thinking through a foam and glass skimboard build and I'm seeing that snowboard(?) up on top of your shelf? That deck looks wicked! The surf shape is rad too!
Foam/glass skimboard would be awesome I've only ever made them with wood. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Its actually the sheet metal for a casset for boards around 148cm. I should dig up some photos of some of my boards I've made to show you.
Forwards, backwards, upside down...you definitely think outside of the box Matt! Kickflips!?? Woohoo...I'd love to see that! You'd be one up on Jamie O'Brien if you pulled that off wouldn't you? Has he ever kickflipped a board? Had fun watching your thought process as you shaped the board. Looking forward to seeing the next steps and the final product. Even more stoked about seeing you ride your creation. I hope it works as good as you want it to. Fun stuff!!! Cheers, John ;)
Thanks John, its currently being airbrushed now, hopefully I finish it soon. I use to try kickflips but could never really get past half way, maybe this board will work better. No hes got way more stuff on me, I don't really think that way. More of how can I change the way I surf, which I still have so much to learn. Only time will tell if surf good, based on what I learned on my 6"0 I shaped it should be really fun.
@@WaveWasters I was just up your way and bought a hood and a pair of glove at Kannon Beach Surf Shop on Monday. The only thing out that day were kiteboarders. I saw one guy getting ready to go out on a surfboard and I talked to an East Coast Surf School dude who told me they had a big class out that day. Man, it was windy! Keep up the good work on the board and good luck with it! Cheers, John ;)
@@funafter5081 Yeah its been windy the last few days, hoping we get some swell this weekend when im able to get back in water.
@@WaveWasters The weekend is looking good, isn't it? I'm hoping to put the hood to use...maybe the gloves too...we'll see.
Wow! Amazing work! I wish I had a workshop/shed like that! PLEASE tell me there's a video of the final product surfing!!! (or will be soon??)
Its a tiny basement room so its hard to shape anything over 6' but it works. I actually just finished the foam stain on the top and finished airbrushing the bottom the other day. That video will be soon. Also have a full video of another board I made coming soon.
Post a video of glassing this thing if you have it!
I didn't film it :( at the time I didn't think there would be much interest in the glassing stage. I'm planning to make a couple board in the next month so I'll film when I glass those.
Awesome
Thanks!
wild ruffles!
Gives a lot of lift in the board and speed, can make it alittle slidy tho
Real talent awesome shaping! 🤙
Thanks, I wouldn't say im super talented at it but its super fun to do and try new shapes.
I like your shape... But I would prob not make rail's too hard on bottom cos it will be harder to turn...
Rail can be harder in last 1/4 to last third... Soften a bit more out nose so it don't catch a rail...
Thanks, its a fun shape! I was worried about that too, as that's what everyone says. After surfing this board a lot, I haven't found it catchy or hard to turn. For me, the hard edges were important to keep speed when surfing off the nose after pop shove its. I found in my other boards the nose rockers and soft nose rails really slow you down when your surfing off it. So keeping the edges sharper along with the channels in the nose. Gives it the extra little bit of speed you need when surfing off the nose.
If I was to shape this board for someone else. I would shape it with a softer nose because chances are they are not going to want to surf it the same way I am.
Great videos, thanks for sharing your techniques! Just FYI, the shape you keep referring to as a 'Mini Sims' is actually called a 'Mini Simmons'. It is named after Bob Simmons, legendary surfer and surfboard shape innovator of the 1940's..
Keep up the great work 🤙🏼
Thanks! I'm not sure why I always call it a mini sims, I must have picked it up somewhere while researching them years ago. Could be also be local thing, I get asked more if its a mini sims than mini simmons. I've also seen them refereed to as bars of soap and magic carpets. Either way Bob's designs still look amazing today. I'd love to see some of them in person.
There are stories out there that some other dude designed that template and fin set up before Bob.
@@koro287 😑
sick
Very different from the one I shaped you
Looks sick! \m/
Thanks! super fun board to surf on smaller days
@@WaveWasters iv never ridden one but I definitely want one hahaha yeeeeww
@@youngyarnzy777 If the area you are in gets a lot of mellower waves its worth finding one to try out.
@@WaveWasters cheers mate \m/
Cool board, thanks for sharing. Are you using EPS or PU foam?
Thanks! I use EPS from a company that makes it locally, its denser then the typical stuff you get from the hardware store.
"...for when I want to surf my board upside down..."😕
I've surfed this board upside down a few times now the right wave on the right day and it flies down the line. My other board similar to this one is the same way.