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Hollow Wooden Surfboard

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Pudge
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 3,117
Whats up dooders and doodettes,

There's this rad company down the road from me called Grain Surfboards, you can check them out on the webernet here;

https://www.grainsurfboards.com

Their goal and what they're about is to provide people with an alternative approach to surfboard design. Rather than non-renewable, non-recyclable PU and EPS foam, their boards are made of locally harvested white cedar (with the occasional red cedar from the West Coast to add some flare). The boards are hollow with an internal frame structure, you can check out the deets on the site.

They provide these boards either as a build your own class, in-home kits or they make the board for you start to finish. They have east coast and west coast tours to hold board and hand plane classes, pretty neat! After wanting one forever, I finally gutted up and got their Homegrown Kit. I ordered a 5' 5" Mr. Simmons a week or two ago and I am starting to build some of the shaping and rocker stands as I wait for the kit to be put together and cut.

I was gunna make this thread a sort of blog post– keep it up to date as I work on this board weekly. If anyone else is interested in showing your own homegrown shapes (wood or not) post them up! It's cool process and I thought maybe someone would be into it.

Where I am at right now:

I have ordered the kit that comes with the frame set, rail strips, planks and tail block. Usually it comes with the glassing materials but I am going to make some glassed on fins with them once I finish the construction, so it wasn't included in my kit.

I also tried to use wood I have around my house for the shaping stand and rocker table. But my father was prepared to kick me out if I took apart my old bunk bed he planned to sell or give to his grandkids, if I used it for my "hippie shit". The hunt for other reclaimed lumber is ongoing. I will post updates in the thread.

Cheers!
May 23 2015 4:21PM
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S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,185
The only wooden boards I've ridden are the classic throwback backs to hawaiin times boards. And they're a bitch to ride, super fun but a bitch. Anyways, do you know how these boards go OP? Are they heavy? Really curious to as how a wooden short board surfs
May 23 2015 7:38PM
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Pudge
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 3,117
I have never surfed a classic, fully wood board, just these hollow ones. I gather those are pretty unwieldy. I have also never surfed two of the same shape in foam and hollow wood so its not a perfect comparison. But I can say you do notice the weight though, they tend to not get bogged down in the flats and carry their speed. Maybe not as much feedback, but it pays off for how I surf. I tried the shortboard deal for the winter and it just wasn't my stick. Hoping the Mini Simmons gives me a solid middle. I went with it off their recommendation and stories from some others

The shapes I have surfed in hollow wood were their 7' fun board the Pandan and their 6' 6" single fin the Seed.

If anyone is in New England and wants to give them a try, stop by their shop. They also have an event every September called the Re-Evolution. Demos in the AM and a festival at the farm in the afternoon and PM, with Dogfish on tap and a movie premier!

For those not in NE, I know they have some demos spread out at shops and some venues, get in touch with them for specifics
May 23 2015 8:10PM
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msg
Posts: 1108 - Karma: 3,269
Alaias look stupidly hard to ride I'm curious to see how these go
May 23 2015 8:13PM
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Pudge
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 3,117
Yeah I've never ridden an alaia, I am going to make one once I finish this board though. Looking forward to the challenge



The board will look like this, taking a little inspiration on the paint job
May 23 2015 8:26PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
Grain has quite a little operation going on up there now.

First, see the thread in my sig. I shape/glass sometimes. Never done wood, other than wood fins.

I've never ridden a hollow wood board. But I've heard they carry momentum like crazy. A heavy weighted simmons would probably be warp speed all day. Great for summer. Definitely post pics and a ride report.

If you're foiling fins look up the program finfoil. It'll show you how to foil the fins hydrodynamically. It's great for plywood fins because if you set the number of layers equal to the number of plys in your wood it's easy to visualize. And plywood fins always look sick. Find an old skateboard or something, especially one with colored layers in it.

A lot of wood with a little color resin work or pinlines is so good looking. Tint over wood looks nice in some cases, or only a little pigment so it's sort of transparent but still more opaque than a tint.
May 23 2015 9:21PM
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Pudge
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 3,117
Zoid! Loved that thread, probably should've search barred to see if there was anyone else like minded. Your sticks look all time, nothing like surfing something you made yourself eh? That resin job on your pig is sick!

Up there is actually just regular old paint on the wood, clear resin. That is what I am thinking of doing. With their kits you don't get any stringers or rails, its all vanilla cedar. So wicked clean right out, but then I was going to toss a lime green and forest green paint stripes like they did just forward of the fins, no star or snowflake or whatever that is. This being my first I think Greenhorn will be an appropriate name.

That board up there is actually the one they glassed in a live demo this past year at the Re-Evolution.

I will be sure to check out the fin software, thanks brother!
May 23 2015 10:45PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
So the rail strips are more or less rectangular at the moment? You get to choose the profile then? Can't go wrong with green paint and wood either. Trees have been doing that colorway forever.

Wonder if they ever do some sort of demo day down here in jersey. I'd like to try a longboard. I can't imagine I'd be able to turn it, but it must be the most solid ride.
May 23 2015 11:29PM
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Pudge
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 3,117
If you poke around their site you should be able to find pretty much step by step commentary of the builds, or check out YouTube and you'll see some Homegrown compilation videos.

The first rail strip is square, but all subsequent strips are actually strips that are flat on the sides and have two radii on the top and bottom so they fit into one another and rotate over to get the principle rail shape. It's a method from boat shaping called bead and cove. Then a combo of slicing and sanding and love gets you the rest of the way!

I'd be curious to see if they have any demos floating around too. They just finished the East coast road trip which included demos, hand plane and other shaping courses. Sponsored by Dogfish and Vissla, so their absolutely getting some sweet industry looks at this point
May 23 2015 11:57PM
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