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Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

8

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

1

  • Patching Surfboard Fiberglass
  • 8 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Patching Surfboard Fiberglass
  • So, to begin, we need a nice clean working area. My place is small so I used my patio set (not the best idea though, as my wife flipped when she found out I was using toxic chemicals where we occasionally eat, just beware.)
  • Things you will need:
  • Surfboard with dings
  • Cleaning tools: wax comb, rag, and Gloves!!!
  • Resin, Q-Cell Filler, Hardener, Fiberglass Cloth
  • Mixing cup, stirring stick,Transparency
  • Sand paper: 1 rough grit and 1 fine grit
  • Starbucks (optional)

So, to begin, we need a nice clean working area. My place is small so I used my patio set (not the best idea though, as my wife flipped when she found out I was using toxic chemicals where we occasionally eat, just beware.)

Things you will need:

Surfboard with dings

Cleaning tools: wax comb, rag, and Gloves!!!

Resin, Q-Cell Filler, Hardener, Fiberglass Cloth

Mixing cup, stirring stick,Transparency

Sand paper: 1 rough grit and 1 fine grit

Starbucks (optional)

1024

Step 2

  • Next, you need to identify the dinged areas and figure out which method you prefer to use. I used cloth repair on the bigger ones (and the rail ones) and then the sun cure on the small ones (because I have heard it works well enough on small stuff).

Next, you need to identify the dinged areas and figure out which method you prefer to use. I used cloth repair on the bigger ones (and the rail ones) and then the sun cure on the small ones (because I have heard it works well enough on small stuff).

Step 3

  • Now we need to clean the dinged area of all the wax and fiberglass flakes.
  • Grab your comb and scrape any wax from around the area to be repaired.
  • Sand down, approximately 1/4", till you have a nice smooth surface.
  • Cut a small groove (in the direction of the ding) to give the repair mixture somewhere to seep into.

Now we need to clean the dinged area of all the wax and fiberglass flakes.

Grab your comb and scrape any wax from around the area to be repaired.

Sand down, approximately 1/4", till you have a nice smooth surface.

Cut a small groove (in the direction of the ding) to give the repair mixture somewhere to seep into.

Step 4

  • Now we come to the mixing process.
  • First figure how much resin you are going to need to adequately cover the cloth piece with a little to spare to pre-dab the dinged area.
  • Add Filler, it helps to make the solution less watery and more workable
  • Then add the hardener; you only need a little and it really depends on the temp. Your box should say what is appropriate for your particular weather.

Now we come to the mixing process.

First figure how much resin you are going to need to adequately cover the cloth piece with a little to spare to pre-dab the dinged area.

Add Filler, it helps to make the solution less watery and more workable

Then add the hardener; you only need a little and it really depends on the temp. Your box should say what is appropriate for your particular weather.

Step 5

  • Mixing Process (Continued)
  • Put the fiberglass cloth that you cut into the mixture.
  • Stir the cloth in slowly to cover the cloth with mixture without causing air bubbles.

Mixing Process (Continued)

Put the fiberglass cloth that you cut into the mixture.

Stir the cloth in slowly to cover the cloth with mixture without causing air bubbles.

Step 6

  • Application Process:
  • Pre-dab the area with some of the solution, if there is a chunk of the fiberglass gone, use the solution generously to fill void.
  • Spread the soaked fiberglass cloth over the dinged area and smooth it out with your fingers.
  • Use the transparency to spread the cloth evenly, working out any noticeable bubbles.

Application Process:

Pre-dab the area with some of the solution, if there is a chunk of the fiberglass gone, use the solution generously to fill void.

Spread the soaked fiberglass cloth over the dinged area and smooth it out with your fingers.

Use the transparency to spread the cloth evenly, working out any noticeable bubbles.

Step 7

  • Application Process (Continued)
  • Hold the transparency in place (be aware that it will not stay put).
  • Use tape (scotch, masking, painters) to secure the edges and make sure the transparency is held down tight

Application Process (Continued)

Hold the transparency in place (be aware that it will not stay put).

Use tape (scotch, masking, painters) to secure the edges and make sure the transparency is held down tight

Step 8

  • Curing and Finishup:
  • Let the mixture cure.
  • It should take, depending on your weather, about 1 hour or so to dry completely.
  • Don’t remove the transparency until dry.
  • Once dry, remove the transparency and use a fine sand paper to even out any new bumps from the new fiberglass surface.
  • Then, voila! your board should be back to working order. Get out there and this time try to be more careful on the trip back to the car. ;)

Curing and Finishup:

Let the mixture cure.

It should take, depending on your weather, about 1 hour or so to dry completely.

Don’t remove the transparency until dry.

Once dry, remove the transparency and use a fine sand paper to even out any new bumps from the new fiberglass surface.

Then, voila! your board should be back to working order. Get out there and this time try to be more careful on the trip back to the car. ;)

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Eric Doster

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Bote Man - Sep 5, 2013

Reply

You forgot step 0 - choose a well-ventilated area (like the outdoors) before opening those aromatic chemical bottles.