Shaping the perfect nose

When it comes to crafting your own timber surfboard, shaping the board to your exact specifications is one of the most exciting aspects of the entire process.

In a previous blog post, we gave you a sneak peek into the creation of the wooden surfboard’s internal frame. Once the frame is set, the real fun of surfboard shaping begins.

Shaping starts as soon as the internal timber frame is assembled. This stage involves a range of tools, including rasps, block planes, spoke shaves, chisels, a nail gun, and a jigsaw—all of which are used before the skins are applied over the frame.

Once any excess glue is removed, the ribs are seamlessly blended into the rails, which are then meticulously shaped and contoured in preparation for the outer skins.

We always begin by focusing on the bottom of the board before working on the deck. Since the bottom is what we ride on, it’s essential to perfect this part first, ensuring that it’s flawless before any material is removed from the deck.

The nose and tail shapes are cut from solid timber blocks and shaped according to your preferences. Whether you’re aiming for a fish shape, pin tail, round tail, or square tail, this stage allows for true customization of your board. The same creative freedom applies to shaping the nose.

It’s also crucial to check for any twists in the frame or undulations along the rails. The more carefully you shape the frame, the better the final result will be once the skins are applied.

Each board type has specific concaves and contours built into the frame, but these can be adjusted to suit your needs, and you can always add more concaves if desired.

The key to shaping is continually checking the line of your surfboard to ensure the shape is smooth and streamlined. Once the frame is fully shaped, the blocks for your fins are fitted, and then it’s time to move on to applying the skin.

Our Premium Kit comes with detailed instructions, offering a step-by-step guide to help you craft your own wooden surfboard from start to finish. If you’re an experienced woodworker, our DIY Customised Kit may be the perfect challenge for you.

Browse our wide range of boards [here]—there’s no better time than now to start building your dream wooden surfboard!

If you’re interested in hands-on learning, join us for one of our 4-Day Board Making courses - our next one is in June 12 and has only one position left !