How to Laminate a Snowboard

Snowboards are strong, light and flexible. They are able to possess these three seemingly opposing characteristics by being constructed from a sandwich of different layers. A wood core gives the required strength, while layers of foam and fiberglass keep everything light and flexible. While some professional equipment is used to press the board layers together during manufacturing, it is possible to repair a worn or damaged board by replacing the bottom layer with another one of fiberglass.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft cloth
  • Light sandpaper
  • Cleaning solution
  • Epoxy resin
  • Squeegee
  • Sheet of fiberglass, large enough to cover the board
  • Craft knife or old scissors
  • Epoxy hot coat
  • Epoxy gloss coat
  • Wax
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean and polish the underside of the board using the soft cloth and mild cleaning solution. Lightly rub the whole surface all over with the light sandpaper. The idea is to slightly roughen or "key" the surface, giving the new layer something to stick to. If it is an old board, chances are it will be scuffed anyway, but try to give it consistent surface all over.

    • 2

      Lay the board upside down on a work surface and give it one last wipe to ensure that it is free from dirt and dust particles. Mix the epoxy resin as per the container's instructions and pour a palm-sized blob onto the board.

    • 3

      Spread the epoxy over the board as evenly as you can using the squeegee. Work quickly, as the resin will dry in around 10 to 15 minutes.

    • 4

      Lay the fiberglass sheet over the board and pour another palm-sized blob of epoxy onto it. Smooth it out using the squeegee and allow it to dry.

    • 5

      Wait for the epoxy to dry, overnight if possible. Trim off the excess fiberglass with the knife or scissors. It can be easier to flip the board over and use it as a template for the trimming.

    • 6

      Sand the bottom surface as smooth as possible, then clean off any dust particles again. Apply the hot coat and allow it to dry. This will sink into all the fibers in the cloth, making the surface smoother. Sand again and apply the gloss coat. This will give the mirror-smooth slick finish you need for your board.