Home made longboard
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Pete
- Engineer
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Home made longboard
Anybody made there own longboard for sanding? The ones from Jamestown are a little pricy and I would have to wait for shipping. I can make one simple enugh and have it this weekend. I just thought I would ask to see if anyone had any tips on how they made theirs.
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Lloyd Franks
- First Officer
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Chinook
- Admiral
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Re: Home made longboard
I was wondering the same thing, so Googled Jamestown longboard, and learned that it is a long sanding block/rasp, designed for sanding long curved surfaces. My first thought was that this referred to the old style surfing longboards. In the mid 60's, longboards were the norm, and a couple of my friends down in SoCal were into surfing. Not that many manufacturers then, and most surfers I knew then were perpetually short on $. Good option was to build their own longboards. Buy a foam blank and start sanding. Couple coats of fiberglass, gelcoat, and hit the beach.
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Graham Carr
- First Officer
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Re: Home made longboard
I make my own long (sanding 
) boards and have used them for over 20 years. I use the sanding belts for belt sanders. I slip the belt over a strip of ¾” plywood. I also have some made out of oak. The plywood block is cut to the width of the belt and long enough so the belt just slips on to the plywood. To tighten the belt, slip a strip of ¾” x ¾” wood between the belt and plywood block. This strip is placed perpendicular to the block. Now just push the strip to one end and this will put tension on the belt. So one side (bottom) of the block is flat and the top is sloped from the strip of wood. The size of you block is only limited by the size of the available belts. I have several sizes including 3” x 21”, 4” x 24”, 4” x 36”, and 6” x 48”. The net size of the pad is half the size of the belt minus about 3/4”. So the 36” belt would have a board about 17-1/2” long. For a flexible long board, I use MasoniteTM hardboard. Make sure you buy the standard board and not tempered. Tempered is to ridge, but standard bends. You can buy it in 1/8” and ¼” thickness. Because it is thinner it will make the board a little longer then the ¾” blocks. You will find the plywood/oak blocks are bullet proof. If you need your blocks fast, then you’ll have to settle with what your local home/lumber stores have. If you can wait and order online then you’ll have a bigger selection. I buy my sand paper from Grizzly. You can get belts up to 6” x 80”. Just go to this link sandpaper
Happy sanding!
Graham
PS: If you find the hardboard is to flexible, just add additional layers until you find the right amount of bend. Wrap some tape around one end and this will allow the layers to slip as the curve changes.
) boards and have used them for over 20 years. I use the sanding belts for belt sanders. I slip the belt over a strip of ¾” plywood. I also have some made out of oak. The plywood block is cut to the width of the belt and long enough so the belt just slips on to the plywood. To tighten the belt, slip a strip of ¾” x ¾” wood between the belt and plywood block. This strip is placed perpendicular to the block. Now just push the strip to one end and this will put tension on the belt. So one side (bottom) of the block is flat and the top is sloped from the strip of wood. The size of you block is only limited by the size of the available belts. I have several sizes including 3” x 21”, 4” x 24”, 4” x 36”, and 6” x 48”. The net size of the pad is half the size of the belt minus about 3/4”. So the 36” belt would have a board about 17-1/2” long. For a flexible long board, I use MasoniteTM hardboard. Make sure you buy the standard board and not tempered. Tempered is to ridge, but standard bends. You can buy it in 1/8” and ¼” thickness. Because it is thinner it will make the board a little longer then the ¾” blocks. You will find the plywood/oak blocks are bullet proof. If you need your blocks fast, then you’ll have to settle with what your local home/lumber stores have. If you can wait and order online then you’ll have a bigger selection. I buy my sand paper from Grizzly. You can get belts up to 6” x 80”. Just go to this link sandpaperHappy sanding!
Graham
PS: If you find the hardboard is to flexible, just add additional layers until you find the right amount of bend. Wrap some tape around one end and this will allow the layers to slip as the curve changes.