Repairing Guides

how to repair a foam surfboard

by Karelle Denesik Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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  1. Cut and clean the damaged part. The first step in repairing your surfboard is to cut and clean the damaged part using a razor blade. ...
  2. Start sanding down your board. The next step is to sand down your surfboard. You might want a smoother surface to work with when repairing your board. ...
  3. Start filling the gaps. When you’re confident that you have adequately cleaned the board, proceed to fill the gaps. ...
  4. Sand it down. Once the mixture that you used in filling the gaps hardened, sand it down. This way, it falls flat with the board. ...
  5. Start glassing the repaired area. You will need two circular fiberglass pieces; just make sure that the other one is a bit bigger compared to the other, and both ...
  6. Sand the area again. After placing two pieces of fiberglass, you may now sand the area again. ...
  7. Add finishing coat. After sanding and smoothing it down, make sure to add a thin layer of resin and final drops of catalyst to the mixture. ...
  8. Wait for 48 hours before using the board.

Part of a video titled An Easy Way to Repair Your Soft top Surfboard - YouTube
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We'll take the hot glue gun and fill in the void since it's a pretty deep void we'll uh give it aMoreWe'll take the hot glue gun and fill in the void since it's a pretty deep void we'll uh give it a little time for that first layer to dry and then we'll come back and continue filling.

Full Answer

How do you fix a broken surfboard?

Once the epoxy is hardened, remove the tape. Sand using 180 grit sandpaper to blend the repair area into the existing part of the surfboard. Once the area is blended, sand the whole patch to flatten. Sand the rails by hand as the epoxy there will be thinner than other parts of the repair.

How do you fix a ding in a foam board?

Determine if the repair needs to be filled or if large parts of board need reinforcement, this may include needing to glue back in pieces of foam. If the repair is a ding, typically you can just sand and fill the hole or ding with some filler first then patch.

How do you remove epoxy tape from a surfboard?

Once the epoxy has harden, remove the tape from the surfboard. Using a sander with some medium grit sandpaper (120 grit) sand the fiberglass repair area so it blends in with the existing board. Go slowly so you don't sand too much or damage the existing part of the board.

How long does it take to repair a ding in surfboard?

A: If this is your first time to repair a surfboard, it will only take a couple of hours to do all the steps correctly. If you include the amount of time that you need to dry your board under the sun, it will take 2-3 days before you can fully fix the ding in your surfboard.

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How do you fix a foam bubble on a surfboard?

If it's a bubbled deck, we'd recommend slicing the deck, just enough so you can squeeze some glue in there. An *Epoxy Adhesive Glue works well for this. Just double check packaging,ask at hardware store to confirm it is an EPS safe one, and if you have any doubts, test it on a small sample area first.

How do you fix delamination foam on a surfboard?

2:0710:14Vacuum Bag Surfboard Delamination Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I started sanding it down till I hit that 3/16 level area and sanded it smooth just took all theMoreAnd I started sanding it down till I hit that 3/16 level area and sanded it smooth just took all the bumps out and then I'm preparing now to put the high-density foam in.

Can foam surfboards get waterlogged?

Soft-top surfboards are perfect for learning because they're safer than a hard fiber glass board. But just like a fiber glass board, soft tops have a foam core. If you slice or ding the board deep enough to reach the white foam core, the board may soak in water and become “water logged” and heavy if not repaired.

How do you repair a polyurethane surfboard?

There are excellent ding repair kits for polyurethane foam boards, and specially formulated UV curing resin for repairing epoxy and polyurethane surfboards. After you've applied the fiberglass and resin, expose it to sunlight to harden. Then reapply an additional coat of resin to fill in and create a smooth surface.

Can a foam surfboard be repaired?

Most damage caused to the slick can be repaired in a similar fashion to dings on a typical hard surfboard. Solar cured Epoxy such as Dura Resin or Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy are suitable products as they cure hard so is perfect for the slick side of a soft top surfboard.

How do you fix a small delamination on a surfboard?

Mix up a small amount of resin and tape the foam into place, using the resin as glue. Once the resin has set, cut and sand the foam until its surface is level with the board, then trim the foam a little more. Tape up the area and seal with two or three sheets of fiberglass and resin. Leave to harden, then sand.

Can I use Flex Seal on my surfboard?

0:514:00Flex seal spray and tape on surfboards? I tried it out. 1 year later ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd sort of just layer over the top of it. And i discovered a few things while i was doing it.MoreAnd sort of just layer over the top of it. And i discovered a few things while i was doing it.

Can you fix a water damaged surfboard?

Fixing a waterlogged surfboard is not difficult, but it will take some time. You should also take note that unless you completely remove a side of the board's fiberglass, it is likely that not all of the water will be removed.

Are foam surfboards good for beginners?

Foam surfboards are a great choice for beginners! For beginner surfers, an 8 to 9-foot foam longboard surfboard is one of the best options as an entry-level surfboard for a number of reasons. Foam surfboards are stable, user-friendly, and easy to paddle which makes catching waves and standing up a lot easier.

Can you use epoxy repair on PU surfboard?

If you have a PU surfboard you can actually fix it with epoxy resin or polyester resin, but it's better to fix it with polyester resin.

What resin should I use to fix my surfboard?

If you use polyester resin on an epoxy surfboard it will eat away the polystyrene core. Epoxy on polystyrene is OK and is the best solution when you're on the road as most repair kits are epoxy based.

How do I fix my epoxy surfboard?

2:256:40How to: Rail Ding Repair on Painted Epoxy Surfboard or SUP - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we're going to cut a patch that's a little bit bigger than our repair. Area and thenMoreSo we're going to cut a patch that's a little bit bigger than our repair. Area and then concentrically patches that are an eighth to quarter inch smaller.

What causes delamination on surfboard?

The delamination is caused by water getting in the foam in from a ding in that spot, or somewhere else and causing the glass to seperate from the foam. So in answer to your question, yes, it could be damp.

Can I use Flex Seal on my surfboard?

0:514:00Flex seal spray and tape on surfboards? I tried it out. 1 year later ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd sort of just layer over the top of it. And i discovered a few things while i was doing it.MoreAnd sort of just layer over the top of it. And i discovered a few things while i was doing it.

How do you repair a foam bodyboard?

0:443:03How to repair your bodyboard with eBodyboarding.com - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo pretty simple fix you just have your hot glue gun you squirt some glue right into that littleMoreSo pretty simple fix you just have your hot glue gun you squirt some glue right into that little slot. The cut in the board make sure to get plenty of glue in there. Then. You sit down your glue gun.

How do I fix the pressure on my surfboard dings?

Here's what you do:Use a razor blade or pocket knife to cut away any ragged or lifted edges from around the hole in your surfboard.Slice a small chunk of putty from the putty stick. ... Gently push the putty into the surfboard ding and sculpt until it is flush with the surrounding shape of the board.More items...•

What to use to repair a soft top surfboard?

If you are on a surf trip or away from any repair materials and you get a fin cut or small hole in your softboard but really want to keep surfing it, a simple “temporary” soft top surfboard repair trick you can use involves materials you are likely to have on hand: Surf wax (any kind) A lighter. A spoon or metal cup.

Why do surfboards have bubbles?

Delamination or bubbles on the deck of soft top surfboards is a common issue that can occur from over exposure to heat, or even just from age or prolonged use.

What is the best epoxy for a surfboard?

Solar cured Epoxy such as Dura Resin or Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy are suitable products as they cure hard so is perfect for the slick side of a soft top surfboard. If the surface of the damaged area is rough give it a light sand with a relatively fine grit sand paper/block.

What is a bodyboard made of?

Bodyboards look very similar to softboards with their slick bottom and foam decks but bodyboards are generally made of PP (Polypropylene) or PE (Polyethylene), while the softboards are made from EPS (Extruded Polystyrene).

How long does it take for soft top repair to dry?

Ensure the area in question is clean and dry before attempting soft top repairs. Allow 24 hours for repairs to cure and dry before use.

Can you store a surfboard away from the wall?

As for a simple tip – make sure you store your board away properly when not using it. Often times people damage their boards in the safety of their own home just because they have it leaning loosely up against the wall (this has happened to me soo many times!). Why not build your own DIY surfboard Rack.

Can you use bodyboard repair kits on soft top surfboards?

1 Do not use bodyboard repair kits for a soft top surfboard repair!

How to fix a fiberglass blister on a surfboard?

The fiberglass patch that was cut out was able to be salvaged as it was in excellent shape, however it was convex in shape so it needed to be flattened before being glued back to the surfboard. Using a heat gun the blister was heated gently until it flattened out, a block of wood was used to help keep it level.

What is the last step on a surfboard?

The last step and is optional is polishing, polishing will help blend the repair area in with the rest of the surfboard. I like using an automotive clear coat polish. I use a cloth and apply a little polish and start working at the surfboard, it will take some elbow grease! You can also use a buffer if you have one and will speed things up.

How to soak fiberglass in epoxy?

Using an automotive body filler squeegee, move the epoxy around the board giving it time to soak into the fiberglass. Don't rush this, let the fiberglass get saturated.

How to repair fiberglass blisters?

Determine the area that needs to be repaired and remove the fiberglass. Using a marker the blister was marked where it separated from the foam. Then using a rotary tool with a cutting disc the marked area was cut out, a vacuum was used to keep the dust down while cutting. Don't forget to wear a dust mask to keep the fiberglass dust out of your lungs.

What to do with a blister on a board?

Cut out the bad section of the board, in this case a large blister

How to get rid of dust on epoxy board?

Vacuum to get rid of any dust, avoid touching the board with your hands as they have natural oils that can contaminate the surface causing adhesion issues with the epoxy.

Why do you put tape on epoxy?

Some tape was applied to keep the epoxy off the parts of the board that were not being repaired.

How to repair a surfboard?

Cut and clean the damaged part. The first step in repairing your surfboard is to cut and clean the damaged part using a razor blade. Carefully cut the damaged part of the board. This way, you will have a beautiful, clean board surface.

How long does it take to repair a surfboard?

A: If this is your first time to repair a surfboard, it will only take a couple of hours to do all the steps correctly. If you include the amount of time that you need to dry your board under the sun, it will take 2-3 days before you can fully fix the ding in your surfboard. After that, it’s good as new and ready to use.

How to fill holes in a sanding cup?

If the hole is too big, filling the gaps is the best thing to do. In a mixing cup, combine sanding resin and Q-cell. Start mixing it. Add at least ten catalyst drops to your paste. And then mix again. Apply this combination on the dinged areas. It serves as an adequate foam replacement.

How to make a board glossy?

If you want your board to be glossy, use a polisher and a diamond cut compound. Your board will look good as new with the help of the abovementioned materials.

Can you repair a hairline crack on a surfboard?

If it’s just a hairline crack we are talking about, then it’d be easier to repair the board at home. But if the crack is too huge, or the rot has spread to the nose and other large surfaces of the board, perhaps you should consider repurchasing another surfboard instead of trying to fix it.

Can you press fiberglass?

Be careful and make sure that the resin is spread evenly. It is crucial that you can press the fiberglass pieces without difficulty.

Can a surfboard break?

Surfboards break, and it can happen at any time. Even the most careful surfers out there would be one day looking at his favorite board with a heavy heart because of the damage, and that is why you need to learn how to repair a surfboard.

What is the best product for soft top repair?

For most small and medium size soft top repairs I recommend a product called BLOBB. Blobb is similar to a shoe repair, and is water proof and very easy to use. Here are a few simple steps. First make sure you are outside or in a well ventilated area.

Is a soft top surfboard better than a hard top?

Soft-top surfboards are perfect for learning because they’re safer than a hard fiber glass board. But just like a fiber glass board, soft tops have a foam core. If you slice or ding the board deep enough to reach the white foam core, the board may soak in water and become “water logged” and heavy if not repaired.

How does EPS foam work?

The EPS foam has spaces between the foam cells , these fill with water by surface tension. Result heavier board, secondly under heat the water expands and steams up between the cells and gets under the surface layer, vapour pressure forces it off its bond to the core.

Is Blobb compatible with all boards?

Blobb is not compatible with all boards. Should check with manufacturers or blobb distributors.

Can leaving a board in a hot car destroy it?

BTW leaving any board damaged or not in a hot car can destroy it in rapid time. Australian summers do this easily!

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