Sanding Boards...

[deano1]

hi whats best grade of sand paper to use to smooth then get a smooth finish, then what goes on to give it a shiny look of should i leave it???

[kitesurfer]

I use 120 then 240, 400, 600, 800 and then if a shiny look is needed you have to then polish.

KS

[deano1]

cheers bud how and what to use to polish????

[kitesurfer]

cheers bud how and what to use to polish????

Car polish and a polishing machine!

KS

[jt111]

After 800grit i'd keep going up to 1200 and preferably 1500, followed by a rubbing compound then polish. If you go from 800 to polish you won't get quite as shiny a finish due to the 800 being comparitively course against the polish, it'l be more of a dull shine. Unless of course you want to polish it for ages! Skipping grades of w&d may seem like an easy thing to do, but 5mins extra sanding will produce a far better finish.

[Roy Stewart]

Polished boards are noticeably slower

.

[kitesurfer]

After 800grit i'd keep going up to 1200 and preferably 1500, followed by a rubbing compound then polish. If you go from 800 to polish you won't get quite as shiny a finish due to the 800 being comparitively course against the polish, it'l be more of a dull shine. Unless of course you want to polish it for ages! Skipping grades of w&d may seem like an easy thing to do, but 5mins extra sanding will produce a far better finish.

I've tried both and found that going to 1200 didn't make any difference to the level of shine on my boards.
Sanded to 800 grit then polished.







On another note with regards to skin friction drag, 600 is as far as you will need to go. Any further the gains are miniscule. With regards to polished boards being slower, hmmm. Interesting.

KS

[jt111]

I've tried both and found that going to 1200 didn't make any difference to the level of shine on my boards.
Sanded to 800 grit then polished.

Fair enough, looks to be a very nice finish on the board, my comment had been based upon experiences outside of surfing (but very similar construction techniques) though generally on a gelcoat surface which may give slightly different finishing qualities.

"Polished boards are noticeably slower" what a can of worms to open, most water based sports have been over this many many times, generally with no concensus and very very very little speed difference. The one thing it normally comes down to is a polished finish looks better and is easier to sell on, so holding its value and your investment.

[esonscar]

I've tried both and found that going to 1200 didn't make any difference to the level of shine on my boards.
Sanded to 800 grit then polished.

Fair enough, looks to be a very nice finish on the board, my comment had been based upon experiences outside of surfing (but very similar construction techniques) though generally on a gelcoat surface which may give slightly different finishing qualities.

"Polished boards are noticeably slower" what a can of worms to open, most water based sports have been over this many many times, generally with no concensus and very very very little speed difference. The one thing it normally comes down to is a polished finish looks better and is easier to sell on, so holding its value and your investment.

Polished boards are noticeably slower

.

I polish mine but leave a special 'pattern of scars' for hydrodynamics - I agree with you both !

Oooh I love my boards !

[ esonscar - BSc (hons). DIS. Grad Inst Phys. ex govt process advisor, current process analyst @ amazon the online shop ]