If you’ve ever wondered how to paint a surfboard before glassing, you’re not alone. Of course, and as you may have already noticed, there’s far more information available on how to paint a surfboard after glassing than there is before. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered.
Why Paint a Surfboard Before Glassing:
While some might tell you painting after glassing is the better option, many professionals strongly believe the paint looks better if you do it before. Painting over gloss leaves more room for the paint to get ruined, especially since the paint on glazed surfaces isn’t always prone to lasting results — especially upon exposure to harsh sun and saltwater.
The raw, pre-glassed materials of most surfboards are better prone to absorbing, supporting, and holding paint. Furthermore, glassing over your paint job will better protect your paint than painting on top of a glassed surface. The latter generally means dealing with the wear and tear caused by more direct contact with the ocean, wind, salt, rocks, and other natural impediments to the aesthetic glory of your gear.
What You’ll Need:
As you may have already guessed, there’s a little more to painting a board than just paint. Fear not, though. Having a beautiful board that makes you smile when you look at it and feel fearless while out on the water is totally worth the trouble of rounding up a few supplies. Here’s what you’ll need to paint your pre-glassed board.
Paint Clothes and a Tarp
Painting a surfboard can get pretty messy. Make sure you’re prepared for whatever clothes you’re wearing to be covered in paint by the time you’re done. Choosing clothes that cover as much of your skin as possible comes highly recommended.
Surrounding areas are also extremely prone to paint damage. The best way to prevent this is to set a tarp or some other type of thick, durable paint cloth down around the space on which you are planning to paint.
Protective Goggles, A Face Mask, and Durable Gloves
Between sanding, dust, and various chemicals, you’ll need to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. These things, especially in a closed environment, can be injurious or toxic over an extended period of time or even just one bad moment. Accidents happen both in the water and out of it. In both circumstances, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Surfboard Cleaner, a Clean Rag, a Wax Comb, Acetone, and Paper Towels
If you’re dealing with a board that is already waxed, you’ll have to dewax it before you can paint. To achieve this, you’ll need a surfboard cleaner, a clean rag, a wax comb, acetone, and paper towels. For the acetone, don’t use nail polish remover. The moisturizer in these can decrease the paint’s ability to stick to the board.
Wax or no wax, you’ll have to wipe down your board before painting it. Keep a clean rag handy in either circumstance.
Sandpaper or an Electric Sander
You’ll need to sand your surfboard before painting it. Not only does this smoothen the surface out, but it also helps the paint stick to it. You’ll want extra fine or superfine sandpaper — 280-400 grit sandpaper comes the most recommended. The happy medium for many surfboard artists tends to be about 320 grit sandpaper, but anything in the aforementioned range will do the job.
Electric sanders are also an acceptable alternative.
Tape
Painter’s tape is a handy tool for painters across various disciplines. Those spray painting their boards will find it the most helpful, but all surfboard artists regardless of chosen paint materials should keep some handy. Tape allows you to protect areas you don’t want to paint, or else create specific, more complex designs.
Masking tape is an equally viable option for those who don’t have painter’s tape available to them.
Pencil or Whiteboard Erase Marker
Some people prefer to outline their design with a noncommittal tool before applying paint directly to the board. This is especially recommended for beginners, but a great idea for painters of all levels who want to achieve the most precise results. Since it’s easily erasable, a pencil is best for those completely new to surfboard painting, whereas more seasoned artists might find the whiteboard erase marker more efficient and easier to follow while painting.
Looking to remove the wax from your surfboard?
Here’s how to do so in 3 easy steps.
Paint
This one is probably obvious enough because yes, of course, you’ll need paint in order to paint a surfboard! However, there are different types of paint available for use, and some are better than others when it comes to surfboard material and the general demands of the sport. Keep in mind that surfboards do not live a delicate existence, and therefore any paint jobs and designs must be able to hold up against the elements and any other types of natural deterioration.
The most common type of paint artists use on pre-glassed boards is spray paint. However, there are other popular options as well. For example, water-based acrylics. Don’t be fooled by the fact that they are water-based — they can still very much hold up against the tough demands of the ocean. Water-based acrylic paint is also far easier to clean up in the event of any spills or accidents than most other types of surfboard-appropriate paints.
Some surfboard artists may even opt for basic bucket paint and apply it to the board with a paintbrush. However, this is far less common and best left to those familiar with any negative interactions the board and paint materials may have with each other. Depending on the type of paint and technique you use, an assortment of brushes and a mixing tray may also be required.
Paint pens are another great option for those looking to add more detail to their surfboard design. These are great for getting into the artistic intricacies of the painting process and are incredibly easy to find at an art supply store. Many artists recommend keeping a black paint pen on hand and using it to outline the design later on in the process for a bright and bold aesthetic effect. This is generally the norm for surfboard painting.
The only type of paint that the experts strongly recommend all surfboard artists stay away from is anything enamel-based. Enamel-based paints won’t hold up following water exposure. Rather, they’ll yellow, crumble, and peel off the board. Additionally, if your board contains any polyester resin, avoid latex house paints and, despite what it says above, water-based acrylics as well. These will have a negative reaction to the polyester resin, or else run everywhere, make a mess, and leave you with a completely ruined design.
Clear Sealant
After you’re done painting and the paint has completely finished drying, you’ll need to protect your design from wear and tear. This is where sealant comes in. Applying a coat of clear sealant to your board will protect your artwork before the elements or any mishaps can get to it.
Make sure that whichever kind you get is congruent with the paint you used for your board. Different types of paints require different types of sealants — so double check to make sure that the sealant you choose will not only be effective but won’t cause any additional harm to the design.
Glossy and matte finishes are both available. Which you select comes down entirely to preference. Clear UV-resistant sealant is also an option for many types of paint finishes and is worth looking into for surfboard artists to minimize future sun damage to your design.
How to Paint Your Board Pre-Glassing
So, you’ve gathered all your supplies, and now you’re ready to get to work!
The first thing you’ll need to do is clean the surfboard. Wiping it down with a clean cloth is sufficient for new and unwaxed boards, but for waxed ones, you’ll need to take a few additional steps.
To dewax your board, place your surfboard out in the sun for five to ten minutes, and then use a wax comb to scrape off the wax— which should be far more malleable after being out in the sun. To finish off, take a clean cloth, spray a bit of surfboard cleaner on it, and wipe down the board with it. For any remaining wax or stains, follow this up by cleaning the board off with acetone and paper towels. Do this until you’re absolutely sure you’ve rid it of all residue. This is vital for a strong surfboard paint job.
Once you’ve cleaned off your board, you’re ready to sand it with either your sandpaper or an electric sander. Light sanding comes recommended before painting for all surfboards, but especially for those with glossy surfaces or finishes. Sanding allows the paint to adhere to the surface better and therefore creates cleaner, more durable, and more aesthetically pleasing results. Remember — this doesn’t have to be a heavy sanding process. Just do it enough that all the areas you’re looking to paint feel at least slightly sanded.
After sanding, and if you’ve chosen to use a pencil or whiteboard marker to outline your design, this would be the time to do so. The tape can be applied during this part of the process to help keep the design secure and neat. Long strips of tape generally create smoother results.
Now, you’re finally ready to paint! How this part of the process goes will depend entirely on the intricacy of your chosen design. The best way to go is by starting to paint the base or, in other words, the background color. If you’re using spray paint, be sure to hold it eight inches away for the best results. Don’t be afraid to do multiple coats either — the experts say you absolutely should. However, if you do, just ensure you do so equally across the board. The tape you set down either while outlining your design or before starting to paint should keep things clean and neat.
Next, paint and outline your designs as needed. You might find yourself switching to your water-based acrylics or paint pens for this part, although this isn’t mandatory. Whatever works best for you and your design should do the trick. No matter what, just be sure to take your time. Rushing will lead to sloppy results, wasted materials, and disappointment. It’s definitely worth putting the necessary care into your painting process now for satisfaction out on the water later.
If you’re pleased with your final product, then it’s time to let the paint dry. If you’re not painting outdoors already, then it’s time to take your board outside and let it dry for a minimum of 24 hours — although it may need longer depending on the materials you used and the number of coats you applied.
Don’t remove the tape until the paint is completely dry. Once it is, you can remove the tape very slowly and carefully — but if you do it too soon while the paint is still even the slightest bit wet, you run the risk of ruining the design. Don’t worry, though. The patience will all be worth it once you see how beautifully your design turned out!
Your paint is all dry and you’ve successfully removed the tape without any mishaps. Fantastic! Now, all that’s left is spraying on your sealant. This is a vital step for creating long-lasting results, and therefore should not be skipped by anyone — especially those seriously looking to preserve their designs. The sealant also provides a certain smoothness and shine that looks brilliant both out on the sand and in the water.
After applying each coat, you’ll want to gently sand your board again and wipe off the dust to re-smoothen the surface. Let it dry properly each time. By the time you’re all done, you’ll want to have sprayed on a minimum of three thin layers for optimal results.
Once your board is all sanded, painted, and sealed, all that’s left is for you to go flaunt your handiwork out on the water.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.