9ft 4" Balsa Deluxe

Fine tuning prior to glassing

Fin boxes routed and ready

Fine veneer glued up to go around the fin boxes to minimise the non wood outcome on the finished board.It is such attention to detail and the execution of such things that sets the great board builders apart. Roger hall is one such builder of fine craft.

Master class all the way.

Great turnout at the Ukulele demo @ Patagonia Burleigh Heads

All sorts a people a drawn to the ukulele

They had a great turnout on a hot old day.

Local Corndale wood worker and wooden board builder among other things Mike Connor also makes a great ukulele.

www.michealconnorwoodwork.com.au

Limited Edition pigs

Balsa Collector Series

9'4" x 22 1/2" x 3"

'The late 50's heralded great change in surfboard construction, as boards went from being hollow or solid timber to the foam/fibreglass build that we are all familiar with these days. The final era of solid timber construction featured a board known as the 'pig'. The template was distinctive with its narrow width (often less than 22"!), huge wide tail, and over-hanging D-fin. To celebrate the beauty of the pig we've released a Limited Edition solid balsa replica. These are some of the most beautiful boards we've ever had come through our factory - solid balsa construction, double glossed for that deep shine, laminated timber D fin with a beer tinted halo, and a numbered copper plaque, that we can mount on the deck or on the bottom depending on how the board will be displayed. There will be just 12 made, all hand finished and signed by Bob'

www.mctavish.com.au

Grain Surfboards want you to be part of the revolution

" For thousands of years, surfers have surfed. For all but sixty of those years, their boards were of wood, almost always built with their own hands, for their own enjoyment. Life was good.

But somehow, as civilization advanced, a professional class rose above the rest of us – with great and growing skill, they built our boards for us, tirelessly experimenting and testing, discovering little by little the hidden secrets of how sculpted shapes ride waves.

Now, benefiting from the trove of knowledge collected by our shapers – our oracles of surf – the rest of us are discovering that we too can share the thrill not only of riding waves, but of riding waves on wooden boards that we have built with our own hands – returning to surfing’s roots in a quiet revolution that’s stirring in garages, barns and basements across the land.

Modern shapes, traditional construction, hand-built with care and quality… Welcome to the Revolution.

So if you’ve built a kit, ordered a custom board built here in Maine, or attended any of our classes, we’d like you to meet… everyone else. With a universally interesting group of surfers like yourselves drifting through the shop year after year, it seems only right that you should all have a way to meet up with each other.

That’s why we’re helping to set up Surf Roots Revolution, whose members will be all of you that we’ve gotten to know since we set up shop. Let’s face it – if you’re building your own board, or even surfing on wood, you’re just a little bit different than the rest. And the kind of people we’ve gotten to know through Grain have been so totally cool that we’re sure you’ll all get along great.

We will set up the Surf Roots Swap Shop where you can share info, tools, clamps, rocker tables – whatever. There’ll be places to have discussions about board building, and to log details or techniques that go beyond the board builder’s manual. We’ll also set up discounts on event admissions and products, and figure out other ways to give you all the special treatment you deserve. You’re already part of a revolutionary way of thinking about surfing – one that respects the roots of a noble sport, more sustainable, more handcrafted. So, welcome to the revolution."

Guys I think this is a great idea and yes if you are a wooden board builder you are a different breed in some ways. Sign me up to.


Check out more details on their site : www.grainsurfboards.com

School project

Last week I took a few days off and camped down at Broken Head just south of Byron Bay. I ran into Peter McIntosh from Marist College in Ashgrove who was on the last days of a week long surf camp with the boys from the school. We got talking and he said they were just starting to build a wooden board that they had found some plans for on the net. This is Matt with his project so far.

Building a wooden board is a great experience for anyone and ideal for a school project with the right setup like they have here.

Matt it certainly looks like you are a proud builder and we are looking forward to future progress shots. Nice job.

Nathaniel Grey from Sydney is a busy man.

" This board is a 4’ft 20” by 3/4” Piapo, made from Paulownia and finished with Tung oil. It has a 3/8” hull bottom running from nose to tail."

" This one is a 4' 8” Mini Simmons I’m making for my daughter (in the process of finishing at the moment).
I have built it from a 10 year old battered styrofoam cool lite, that I chopped and re profiled and shaped , then laminated a 5mm skin of balsa and Paulownia I had left over.
The rails are 30mm solid balsa, with a 4oz epoxy glass job to keep it light.
Bottom contours are a subtle hull upfront blending into a slight concave through the fins.
It weighs bugger all. "

" The hand planes are made from a variety of woods from Balsa, Paulownia and red cedar and western red cedar, some are also laminated with 6oz carbon fibre.
The 2 laminated with carbon fibre are only 7 to 8 mm thick hence the carbon for strength.
All the hand planes have 3/4 to 1 inch of concave running straight through them.
And I have finished them with an auto acrylic clear finish."

Check out Nathans skills and other ventures : www.nathanielgrey.com.au

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.