Nobbys work shop

Last week local Gold Coaster and wooden board builder Frank Kaczmarek was in Japan and visited Nobuhito Ohkawa of Nobbywood Surfboards in Chiba. Nobby has been a regular at the Wooden Board Days at the Alley each year.

Nobby with one of his beautifully crafted wooden boards at the Alley this year.

Plenty of supplies on hand for the next project.

Nobby with his rocker bed and large collection of clamps

This 6 foot board on the right came back with Frank to be shared around until Nobby is here next year so that he can get some feedback on it.

A very proud , talented man in a very tidy and well organised workshop. After meeting him you would expect nothing less. Nobby builds his board totally out of Paulownia and then varnishes them rather than glass them.A great finish and very light.

Check out his site and blog at : www.nobbywoodsurfboards.com

Come and learn all about it from the master

If you have ever thought of building your own Ukeulele , now is your chance to get an insight into what is involved. And there is no one better to get lowdown on the whole process than good friend Mike Connor. Mind you he has more wood in his shed than anyone I know. And he could turn it all into something beautiful and useful , what ever you want.

So give Keith at Patagonia a call and book your spot. (07 ) 5576 1901

Paulownia in Europe

Christian Cajar is a man focused on Paulownia and all there is to know about it.

" I've studdied Surf Science and Technology and continuing with a Bachelor in Environmental Resource Management at the moment. All my research projects are focusing on Paulownia and
I've just planted some trees today. My first one was concerning the invasiveness of Paulownia in Europe. I'm aiming for the full circle and we're nearly there. "

" I've been supplying Paulownia for Europe for the past 3 years and what started as a fun project is a one year old registered company. www.rootedorigin.com

We stock paulownia timber in the UK and in Germany and send it more or less worldwide."

" I basically import Paulownia wood and sell it mostly to surfers. My luv for alaias was inspired by Tom Wegener and I'm really into those wooden sleds. So usually people order wood and get all their questions about the building process answered by me."

" This summer I hosted my first alaia shaping course on one of the German islands called Borkum and ever since I get the latest news of the stoked kids via facebook... really cool that the kids enjoy their playground now rather than drinkin beer."

So if you are in the Northern Hemisphere and have a need for Paulownia, Christian is your go to man.

African wood

www.groundswellsurfboards.co.za

The Huon Pine board

The timber work was done by Pat Lyon at Currumbin Wood Works.

Dick Van Straalen shaped this beautiful Huon Pine board for Carl Tanner to add to his impressive collection of boards

Dick admiring the outcome.... nice

A great result from a collaboration of mates with a desire to build something very special and rare.

Byron Bay Surf Festival this weekend

All things surf related this weekend in Byron Bay. Music , art , demos , films , surfing , board swap , markets and all that is Byron as well. It opens on Friday night with Bob Mc Tavish at Stone and Wood brewery . Check it out , should be a fun weekend and a great addition to the calendar. Another non competitive surfing get together we should support.

www.byronbaysurffestival.com

Never stop enjoying the simple things in life

This lady in North Cornwall , UK built and still rides this belly board from the 50's ,1950's that is. Marco Mazzini from Italy met her when he was there for the Fish Fry recently.

Great looking Mini Simmons from Brasil

This is such a great looking little board . Clean lines and simple finish. Nice job by Bernardo Sodre from umbe.com.br .

In the woodshop with Mike

Good mate Mike Connor is a great craftsman in all things wood. Here he is in his element , helping Tony Crimmins machine up the timber for his new deck.

It certainly helps to have the right gear and someone who knows how to use it and keep it sharp.

How easy is that Tony ? A whole top and bottom skin glued up thicknessed and ready to be fitted to the frame.Also the rail bands cut and ready to be laminated to the frame.

Looking good

So if you need some timber machined Mike will be able to help you out for sure. He is also keen to organise some board building classes in the future.
Check out his new website : www.michealconnorwoodwork.com.au
You will see he makes Ukuleles as well as a wide range of other things wood. He has a large store of different timber and a wide knowledge of them and their uses.

Sacred Craft this coming weekend

If you are in California this weekend you should head on down to " Sacred Craft " in Del Mar.
Over 150 booths makes Sacred Craft largest surfboard expo; Windansea icon Carl Ekstrom to be honored; schedule of events set for October 8 & 9.

Sacred Craft brings together surfboard lovers in what has become the surfboard industry gathering. Passion for surfboards and the authentic culture that flows forth never goes out of style.
The SACRED CRAFT Consumer Surfboard Expo provides an opportunity for shapers, surfboard craftsman and surfboard manufacturers to come together under one roof and share their passion with the surfboard loving public. It operates with one objective, to unite passionate surfers with the surfboard industry.

WHO: Surfers, shapers, and surfboard manufacturers
WHAT: Two days of surfboard heaven
WHEN: October 8 & 9, 2011
WHERE: Del Mar Fairgrounds
WHY: Because surfers care about two things: waves and the equipment to ride them with
HOW: $10 at the door; kids 12 & under free / Free Subscription to SURFER magazine

Franks fish

Franks latest fish all ready to get wet once we have some surf again.

Nice job on the Silky Oak fins

" Hi Grant,
Here are some photos of the finished Fish II. I also made fins for it from silky oak wood but because they are quite thin they will be mainly for show, I’ve got a set of “normal” fins for everyday use. I replicated the silky oak fins based on the bought fins.

The board is constructed of a variety of timbers 6 mm thick over a 4 mm marine ply frame. The dark centre panel and pinstripes are walnut, the pale wood is Queensland kauri and the pinkish wood is silky oak. The rails are red cedar and paulownia. It’s all finished with 4 coats of flexible marine varnish, the only epoxy used is to embed the shell and the fin plugs and leash/vent plug. The dimensions are 6’10” x 23 3/4” x 3 1/4”. All of the inside has also been sealed with varnish.

I want to thank you again for designing the board for me and I’m about to try it out as soon as the surf allows. I’ll let you know how it performs.

I have enough wood left over to build another board, a project for next winter. So if you don’t mind I’ll probably be asking for one more board design when I decide what kind of board I want to build."

Thanks Frank for sharing your latest board with us. Let me know how I can help with the next project.

Chesters fish

There are many ways of approaching building a wooden board and there are no easy ways as I have often said. Here is another approach to consider...



" Hey there. my name is Chester Harding and I just wanted to send you a couple of pics of a Fish I made…. I went to the Fish Fry in Cornwall last week but only found out it was down there after I rocked up and left my board at home. Its a bit of a weird design I made. I used balsa for the rails but glued them in-between the ribs, so the dark lines in the rails is the support ribs running thru the board. the rest is made of pine I ripped down from some logs. Hope people like it…."

A different way of doing things that suited Chesters skills and knowledge base. And the outcome looks fine . Thanks for sharing Chester.

Mark Riley and the Surf City Exhibition

Mark getting the blank ready

Mark from Riley Balsa wood Surfboards has been invited to shape a solid classic balsa board for the opening night of the Surf City Exhibition.
From the arrival of Californian 'malibu' surfboards in the 1950s through to the unleashing of the triple-finned 'thruster' in 1980, Sydney was Australia's surfing capital, its 'surf city'.
It started with a young, restless generation - with their 'finned' fibreglass boards, rock 'n' roll, cars and bad attitudes - hitting the surf and clashing with an outraged alliance of surf-club officials, councillors, police, disapproving parents, a spellbound media and a wide-eyed public. Before long, surfing was 'king' and as its fashions and new-found freedoms were ignited, Sydney produced a line-up of top riders and cutting-edge board designers. The evolution of surfing in the 60s and 70s saw Sydney surf writers, publishers, film-makers, bands and businesses gain international attention as innovators and stirrers.
Surf city at the Museum of Sydney will return to the beaches of the 50s, 60s and 70s and show how Sydney's love affair with surfing has left an indelible, salt-stained mark on this beach-crazed city.

September 23rd - 5pm to 9pm

www.hht.net.au/whats_on/exhibitions/exhibitions/surf_city

Address: Corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney, NSW 2000

Contact: 02 9251 5988

Admission:

• Adult $10 I
• Child/Concession $5 |
• Family $20 |
• Members free |

Hours: Daily 9.30am — 5pm | Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

Tony's new pintail underway

Tony Crimmins from Brisbane is making a habit of building great looking boards and his new pintail is no exception

He is looking at a finished weight of about 9.5kgs which is great for a 9ft 6" board.

And this is a great looking fin to set it off.

Nice and tidy , well thought out and as straight as can be. Tony does a nice job.Looking forward to the finished board.

Some great looking wooden boards from Canada