Ding Repair Care Guide: Four Steps to Save your Board

Its not often we talk about what to do when your board gets dinged. But just like an medical emergency there are steps that can be taken to ensure the longevity of your surfboard, along with assisting in an fast and effective repair. 

          

1- Remove your Surfboard from the Water:

Initially when a ding occurs check your board to see if the foam has been exposed. If so, its important that you remove your craft from the water as soon as possible in order to avoid water entering the foam and causing de-lamination. This happens when the water enters the boards core and subsequent pressure changes like an impact and heat cause the fibreglass skin to separate from the foam core. This is a serious structural failure and is often expensive or impossible to fix permanently.

2- Dry out your Surfboard:

Once you have removed your board from the water, its important that you dry out your craft (roughly 48 hours) before you repair your surfboard. Make sure you do this in an indirect sunlight, as UV rays break down the chemical bonds in the board's resin and fibreglass effecting discolouration, and structural integrity. When a board is repaired still wet inside the foam core, the chemical bonds required to form a secure repair between your board and the resin becomes compromised. This is when you may get 'fall out' and further structural damage occurring. By drying out your board before a repair you are helping insure the resilience of your surf craft and of the repair job. 

3- Tape DONT WAX:

It seems to be a common misconception that jamming wax into the crevice of your boards ding will mean you can keep surfing your craft. In ways this isn't completely wrong... Wax is water soluble, so it does prevent the absorption of water. However, adding wax to a ding can make the job larger for the repairer and for your board visually and structurally. When a ding is repaired it often requires some areas of fibreglass and foam to be removed/sanded back in order to bond the repair correctly. When wax is added to this mix it compresses the foam in the board and becomes a deep more structural repair. Instead of wax, try using a strong plumbers tape known to withstand water. 

4- Come to See us:

The most important step is that you come see us at 3/80 Centennial Cct, Byron Bay NSW 2481. We specialise in all epoxy and PU repairs, colour matching services, and specialty crafts.  

Love & Care,

The Team at Sweet Surf Company 

Smorgasboarder Magazine Edition #65

You'll find us in the Summer Edition of Smorgasboarder Magazine, on page 17 squished up next to Sakura Inoue cutting back to the Bells chapter of the WSL longboard classic. 

Smorgassboarder is a magazine for real stories, supporting its readers, and sticking to old school 'surfing is free' cultural roots. Having our advert in this mag feels pretty in keeping with our values at Sweet Surf Company. 

Also in this edition you will find our marketing manager and repairer Emmas article 'Good Old Days'. The story features tales of West Australia early 1970's surf culture in comparison to today, leading from the standpoint of Mark Hills of 'Hilzeez Down South' surf retail chains.

The mags pages are quite literally 'free', and thanks to Nicki at Smorgasboarder we have a couple copies sitting at Ding Repairs Byron Bay ready for your leisurely viewing. Feel free to come down to grab a copy and say gidday to the big wigs; Simon, Bob (dog), and a couple new faces while you're there.

- Sweet Surf Team