DANA BOARDS - WOODY LONGBOARD

1. Your Name: Dana Blocksage

2. Your Brand name: Dana Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Swaylocks

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Everyone was very friendly and helpful and they had everything I needed in stock to build my board.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? This board was shaped for a customer who wanted a hollow Redwood surfboard. I have wanted to shape this style of board for a while, and this order gave me the perfect excuse to finally do it. My customer was totally stoked when I delivered his new board.

6. Shape of finished board? I would call it a traditional Longboard with a pulled in tail.

7. Size of finished board: Length9’6” Nose 16 1/2" Width 20” Tail 9” Thickness 2 3/4”

8. What blank did you use? I chambered and laminated 19 pieces of California Redwood and Oregon Sugar Pine to create a hollow 9’8” blank with a 3.5” rocker.

9. How was your board building experience? Other than taking longer than anticipated (because of all the extra labor), the board building experience was smooth. It was definitely a learning experience to say the least.
10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? My board building experience has come from scrolling through the pages of Swaylocks, trial and error, and then back to Swaylocks for answers.
11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? I have seen the JC Shaping 101 and Glassing 101 which are good for reference.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Absolutely! They make you want to go out and shape a board.
13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? I wish I knew that everything was going to work as planned. I had to create my own rocker templates and cut channels in only the right places. Because every aspect of this board was my own design from conception to construction I was worried throughout the whole build that it would turn it ok, which it did.
14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Take your time, have fun, do lots of measuring, and where a mask!
15. What tools did you find most useful? My Clark foam planer was a must. The Milwaukee grinder with 8” Flexpad “Softie” was an absolute for shaping and sanding the hot coat, and a set of a dozen pipe clamps to laminate the different wood sections and a piece of dragon skin for blending the rails.
16. Where did you run into trouble? I underestimated how long it would take to channel each piece of redwood and shaping solid wood rails by hand. So, my customer got a killer deal on this labor intensive surfboard.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Keeping with the wood theme I hand shaped a 9” vintage style fin made from African Paduak and Purple Heart, Honduran Mahogany, and American Walnut, glassed with a filet of fin rope and 4 layers of 6oz cloth on each side for plenty of strength.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Because of the redwoods natural strength I glassed 4oz cloth on the deck and bottom along with tail and deck patches. I used the Flex Pad Softie 8” with 80 and 150 grits, hand sanded 220 and 300 and finally, hand wet sanded 400, 600, and 800. With my buffpad, I started with the Foam E-Z Surfboard Polish #2 and finished with the Meguiars Surfboard Finish Polish. The results are a deep mirror like shine.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? I glassed this board outside on a calm warm day.

20. What type of board do you want to make next? My next board is going to be a 5’11” fish with glass on keel fins made from exotic African hardwoods, made in the same style as this board except I will be using Redwood and Cedar to create a hollow wave rider.

21. Extra Info... I created a leash loop using fin rope and 4oz fiberglass. I felt that a leash plug would have detracted from the woods natural beauty. The nose and tail blocks are made from African Paduak and Yellow Heart.

NYADA SURFBOARDS by Andy Byrne

1. Your Name: Andy Byrne

2. Your Brand name: Nyada Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Not sure..Internet most likely

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Great, everyone is super helpful.
5. Why did you want to build your own board? Save money and learn something that would ultimately be very useful for my hobby and my friends hobby.

6. Shape of finished board? LongBoard

7. Size of finished board: Length 9'1'' Width 21'' Thickness just under 3'' at mid point.

8. What blank did you use? US BLANK Blue Density
9. How was your board building experience? This was my 5th board and first longboard. It went a lot smoother than the other four. Thinking maybe since I usually ride longer boards I maybe knew a bit more of what the end result should be.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? I spent a lot of time watching clips on the web, reading blogs. Ryan Lovelace, Gato. John Wesley is doing some great shapes. I think just constantly looking at boards that inspire you is a great source of reference. Above all that is simply just doing it...and most likely eating it on the first 2 or 3 shapes.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Youtube/Vimeo, I found that watching a lot of DIY vids that people have put online show what not to do. Ha!
12. Do you recommend these resources? Of course. The more research the better.
13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? That my respirator was only for fumes! not fumes and particles. Wear a respirator!

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Try to do it as right as you can the first time, because each step is dependent on the previous. Also..keep it simple. I did pigment my first try, but it wasn't til the 2nd board that I realized it is what made the board look like a disaster.

15. What tools did you find most useful? Surforms
16. Where did you run into trouble? I've ran into trouble trying to add too many elements into the board. Going to keep the next board a clear sanded finish.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I stuck with the single fin on this one.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? I did glass it. This one was better than the others. Smooth and glossy. I spent a lot of time making sure the board was dust free before glassing this time and it definitely helps.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? My garage which now looks like a meth lab!
20. What type of board do you want to make next? Got a couple friends that want a copy of this one. So looks like the next two will be like this one.

American Warrior Surfboards by Bill Whitley

Your Name: Bill Whitley

Your Brand name: American Warrior Surfboards

How did you hear about us? Surf Show in San Diego 2010

How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Great

Why did you want to build your own board? I have always wanted to shape my own board since the 70's and my family finally said put up or shut up and got me a blank for Christmas

Shape of finished board? Super Tanker (long board)


Size of finished board: Length 11'1" Nose 17" Width 23" Tail 16" Thickness 3 5/8

What blank did you use? 11'3"D US Blanks

How was your board building experience? Not at all what I expected. It was scary, fun, frustrating, learning experience, FUN. Little did I know just because you want a long board to cruise and have some high performance you can't have both, Grant knows I tried.
Did you use videos, books, web, other? Videos, Talk to some of the guys at different shops. Read some stuff on the internet.

What videos, books, web, other did you use? Used the Dick Brewer Video, Took some lessons from Grant @ Foam E-Z. Internet: Surfboard Design by Natural Curves Surfboards.

Do you recommend these resources? Yes. The Dick Brewer Video walks you through the steps, which is a lot of help, but doesn't really tell you why or how to do what he's showing you. The Surfboard Design was a lot of help telling you if you want your board to do this then do this. It also explains how each section works and explains what it does, like rocker, tails, rails, etc.

What do you wish you knew going into this project? What I know now. Patience.

What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Plan well even before you buy the blank. Think what you want the board to do, see what the 10 million experts say how to get that then pick one that sounds right for you. They are all right for them and the boards they sell. Watch the Videos, Read, Get help from someone who has shaped. It's not really rocket science just looks and acts like it. Measure everything 2 times put marks everywhere to help guide you. Patience and planning are the most important. If you plan on do this in the Garage then check out a true Shaping Room and try to set that up at Home.

What tools did you find most useful? Shaping Box at Foam E-Z, Tape measure, Planner (was not going to use at first), help from Grant.

Where did you run into trouble? The Rails. I didn't do both on the same day so trying to remember what I did on one so I could do it to the other was really hard. They are very close I don't think anybody can tell.

What kind of fin system did you use and why? Futures because that's what the glasser put in.
Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? OH Hell NO. Maybe next time. Shaping was scary enough.

Where did you shape your board? Started in My garage then The Box at Foam E-Z. Had Foam E-Z send it to their glasser.

What type of board do you want to make next? Either a 9'0" fun board. Or if I can't get my old Plastic Fantastic fixed (delaminated) replicate it.
Any other input or interesting information you’d like to add? I'd like to thank everyone @ Foam E-Z, Grant for putting up with all the why can't I do that's and his help. Johnny for helping on my logo. Larry for his encouragement. Christina for putting up with me on the phone. If you are going to put any lams on your board get started on them as soon as you start your board so they will be ready when the board is ready to be glassed

Wally Boards

1. Your Name: Wally Drake

2. Your Brand name: Wally Boards

3. How did you hear about us? While surfing the internet.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z?
After hours and hours of designing/learning I finally entered the door. At first I was intimidated but the staff was very helpful and encouraging.

5. Why did you want to build your own board?
Maybe I will build the perfect board and miraculously be able to surf my way.

6. Shape of finished board?
Shorter long board for ease of catching and riding small waves.

7. Size of finished board:
Length 8’-0” Nose 17” Width 22 1/2” Tail 15 1/2” Thickness 3 1/2"

8. What blank did you use? US Blanks

9. How was your board building experience?
I built my own sailboat when I was younger and since have built furniture and buildings and found making a surfboard as challenging as any of them.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other?
Mostly the web.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use?
Spent hours on Youtube, Swaylocks and thinking about what and how to do it. Made drawings and practice pieces of foam.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Anything that helps.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project?
Cut laps are more work but can look fantastic. Want to be efficient at the shaping.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time?
Do lots of research, ask questions, be patient, be thorough and think through the process
beforehand.

15. What tools did you find most useful?
Having a steady hand for power planing and Surform and careful measuring devices with luck.

16. Where did you run into trouble?
Difficult to make clean laps at nose and point of bat tail. Also getting an even overall color in epoxy is challenging.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why?
I like Probox fin boxes for ease of installation and variety of fin angles. Have adapted Future Fins to fit.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like?
Glassing is very challenging to use just enough resin evenly applied.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board?
In my garage in place of a car.

20. What type of board do you want to make next?
7’-6” Fat Fish.

"The drop of water coming off of one of the leaves is the last drop of water with the last fish in it. To remind me to not take the environment for granted."

Cody's 9-1 PIG

1. Your Name: Cody Riechers

2. Your Brand name: no brand name, I'm not selling anything

3. How did you hear about us? internet a while back

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? as good as it gets. I got everything I needed and plenty of good advice from Grant. He's as handsome as he is helpful.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? I wanted to build this board because I was bored and it was the first second quality longboard blank I've seen that I wanted to use.

6. Shape of finished board? 9'1" pig

7. Size of finished board: Length 9’1” Nose 16ish” Width 21ish” Tail maybe 17” Thickness around 3” I wasn't very precise in my measurements and I didn't write them down. I didn't even use a proper template. I played connect the dots on the blank with the flat side of some template sitting in the shape box.

8. What blank did you use? 9'3"y second. I flipped it around to get the rocker and outline I wanted to fit.
9. How was your board building experience? getting better every time. There's a noticeable bump in the outline on one rail and my sanding wasn't perfect, but there's less to complain about than my previous boards.
10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? I read lots of stuff on Swaylocks. Plenty of ideas worth stealing there.

11. What do you wish you knew going into this project? The tail was going to delaminate pretty quickly with a dark fabric inlay in a hot van.

12. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Realize that it's going to talk a lot of time and money to build boards. if it looks bad, it might still be fun to ride.

13. What tools did you find most useful? Good lighting and a good pad on my sander. Being able to use the Hitachi planer instead of my cheap Harbour Freight was weird at first until I got the hang of adjusting the cut's depth.

14. Where did you run into trouble? When I thought I was almost done shaping the blank and turned on the sidelights for the first time and realized it was a bumpy mess.

15. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I made a big thick plywood fin and glassed it on. I still haven't bothered learning to do fin boxes. Plywood is way cheaper and easier than fiberglass.

16. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Glassing went well. It's the longest board I've glassed as well as the first time with Volan, but I didn't run into many problems.

17. Where did you shape and glass your board? Shaped at Foam E-Z and glassed in my backyard.

18. What type of board do you want to make next? Something short and fast.

Windigo Surfboards- Foam Glue Up!

1. Your Name: Barry Snyder

2. Your Brand name: Barry Snyder Designs/ Windigo Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? I’ve known about you for years.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Great!

5. Why did you want to build your own board? It’s what I do.

6. Shape of finished board? Fun-Gun

7. Size of finished board: Length 9’2” Nose 14” Width 21 ½” Tail 13” Thickness 2-7/8”

8. What blank did you use? Bennett longboard Blank

9. How was your board building experience? Fun and lengthy

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? No

11. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How hard it was to glue 18 pieces of foam together.

12. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Don’t try this at home! Just joking!


13. What tools did you find most useful? My rocker stick and templates.

14. Where did you run into trouble? Gluing perimeter foam and stringers.

15. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I made these Bonzer fins and used a Bahne 10.5" Fin Box.

16. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes I glassed this board as well as all the other finish work.

17. Where did you shape and glass your board? At my surfboard factory in Oceanside Ca.

18. What type of board do you want to make next? Metal / Aluminum

19. Having been doing this for 28 years, I still am stoked to build boards and challenge myself to build what others can’t. Foam, wood, and any other exotic material I can get my hands on. Check out my stuff at the next Sacred Craft show in San Diego in Oct.

Dana Surfboards "Fatty Fat Fish"

1. Your Name: Dana Blocksage

2. Your Brand name: Dana Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Swaylocks

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Everyone was very friendly and helpful and they had everything I needed in stock to build my board.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? This board was actually shaped for a customer who wanted an unusual shape somewhere in between a longboard and shortboard with a fish like tail (actually his dream board).

6. Shape of finished board? I named it “The Fatty Fat Fish”. It is a truly unconventional shape that incorporates elements from several different board shapes. Goes against the norm but does everything the customer wanted it to (even nose rides).

7. Size of finished board: Length7’6” Nose 17 ¼” Width 22” Tail 18 ¾” Thickness 2 3/8”

8. What blank did you use? This board was cut form a US Blanks 9-3Y (so I could get the wide inverse swallow tail)


9. How was your board building experience? This board was a little trickier to shape than most I’ve done in the past, especially the inverse curve on the tail. I added a generous single concave to the nose and a slight V in the tail, which has lots of flex.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? My board building experience has come from scrolling through the pages of Swaylocks, trial and error, and then back to Swaylocks for answers.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? I have seen the JC Shaping 101 and Glassing 101 which are good for reference.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Absolutely! They make you want to go out and shape a board.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? I wish I knew it was going to be windy the day I did my glassing, so I could have waited for better weather.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Take your time, have fun, do lots of measuring, and where your mask!

15. What tools did you find most useful? My Clark foam planer was a must. The Milwaukee grinder with 8” Flexpad “Softie” was an absolute for shaping and sanding the hot coat, and all my templates for creating this unusual shaped board.

16. Where did you run into trouble? The only trouble I ran into was the cold weather. It made for extra sanding to smooth out the hot coats that didn’t pour as smooth as I would have liked.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I chose the Futures Vector 2 Quad setup for hold and drive and placed the front fins about ¾” higher to give it a little looser ride. I prefer the Futures installation jig, its like second nature to me. I have always been pleased with Futures fins and that is why I use them on all of my boards.



18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Glassing went better than previous boards (I think it always does though). I did a 6+4 on the deck and a 4 on the bottom. I added a lot of laminates so I had to pay close attention to drying times and work fast, but it turned out really well.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? My garage/shop. I had a commercial site with a sweet shaping bay but my operation got shutdown by the man (I guess only a surfer appreciates the familiar smell of catalyzed surf resin).

20. What type of board do you want to make next? My next board is going to be a 9’2” longboard with a step deck and then a super wide 5’ fish.

21. Extra Info... The nose and tail blocks are actually balsa end cuts that came from the old Velzy Jacobs shop in Venice. I bought a big box of it from a guy who used to shape there in the 50’s. This board surfs amazing! I just happened to be there the first day it was taken out. Since then the shape and paint scheme have gotten tons of complements and head turns every time it’s ridden.