Surfboarding Tools

The process of building surfboards is a highly detailed one that involves a lot of work in the way of shaping and sanding, not to mention the glassing process where epoxy and resins are added to the board's surface. Safety tools and supplies are required when building surfboards to prevent sawdust and resins from getting in the eyes and on the skin.

  1. Shaping Hand Tools

    • Shaping tools for building surfboards include hand tools such as the Fred Tool, an instrument used to cut the rail off the bottom of a board. Surforms are tools used for thinning the nose and tail of the board as well as shaping concave curves and rails. Microplane round rasps are hand tools used for shaping swallowtails on your board and leave a clean finish without tearing the foam or wood. Hand saws are also used in building surfboards for cutting the board.

    Shaping Power Tools

    • Power tools used in surfboarding include foam planers and spiral shaping barrels, a type of shaping tool and attachment that are used to shape polyurethane foam and EPS material. Power sanders are another power tool used for sanding and glassing surfboards. Abrasive planer blades are another option for foam planers that cut through wood and polyurethane without tearing the material.

    Glassing Supplies

    • Tools for glassing surfboards, or applying resin or epoxy to the board for sealing purposes, include wooden stir sticks for mixing chemicals and rubber tools used for laminating fiberglass cloth onto newly-shaped surfboards. Spreaders are a type of glassing tool used for laminating epoxy to the board while a variety of brushes are used for brushing resin on the board. 1-inch brushes are used to paint resin in tight areas on the board while 3 and 4-inch brushes are used for ding repair or applying hot coatings to the board.

    Safety Supplies

    • Safety supplies used in surfboarding include dust masks to wear when sanding to prevent dust from being inhaled. Masks with reusable respirators are also available. Protective apparel also includes safety goggles for keeping foam or fumes out of the eyes when shaping or glassing boards. Reusable rubber gloves are used for preventing hands from becoming sticky during glassing. Protective coveralls with liquid-proof barriers will protect your clothes from resins and dust.