It’s better to make mistakes on your design so you can rub them out – when you start painting you don’t want any nasty surprises!
How To Paint A Surfboard
Step 1 – Remove the wax Remove wax from surfboard with a sturdy wax comb. Generally, a good wax comb will get the wax off. However, if you live in a cold environment or find yourself with layers of old wax, then you may find it helpful to let the wax melt by placing the board (wax up) in direct sunlight for 3-5 minutes, depending on how hot it is. Another chemical free alternative to assist with wax removal, is to use a hair dryer, and blow hot air on the wax until it starts to melt. If you have a brand new surfboard you can skip this step and move onto step 2. Step 2 – Clean the Surfboard Once the majority of wax has been removed with a wax comb then it is time to remove the last remaining wax bits and visible dirt. Remove the last bit of wax using a steel wool ‘fine’ grade. The steel wool is great for removing the last remaining bits of wax and any other grease or dirt on the board. It makes cleaning the board effortless and you’ll be amazed at how well it works. The steel wool should be used by rubbing it up and down to clean all of the surfboard until there is no visible wax or grease remaining. If you have a brand new surfboard, then it is still very important to clean the surfboard from grease and dirt that lies on the surface. Brand new surfboards usually contain finger marks and dust that has been collected via transport and storage. Step 3 – Lightly Sand Surfboards need to be lightly sanded before application of paint pens. The sanding creates these rough ridges on the board that provides better adhesion for the paint to bond to the surfboard. If the board isn’t lightly sanded, it is at risk of flaking off. Lightly sanding a board is crucial for the longevity and flow of paint pens on the board. Not sanding a board before painting is usually the contributing factor of paint jobs peeling off and streaky paint. The best sand paper to use is a 180-240 grit. Sand the surfboard by moving the sand block in a circular motion (like this video or photo) until you start to see fine, white, powdery mixture come off the surfboard. After sanding the area wipe down with a paper towel or rag to clear the area of sanding residue. Well done! All the boring stuff is done. You’re now ready to paint your surfboard. Step 4 – Plan your surfboard art Planning for your next surfboard project doesn’t have to be extensive and in depth that leaves you feeling overwhelmed or underprepared. It can be as easy as getting up a photo from Instagram of a surfboard design that you liked (check out surfpaints Instagram for ideas) and trying to replicate the image to the best of your ability. You may decide to use a pencil to outline the drawing or graphics to help with space awareness. A very popular option is to complete a “Google” search and print off something you may like for tracing on the board e.g. Mandala silhouette. Some surfers tend to just do what feels right and just start painting! This is an awesome way to express yourself and thankfully surfpaints paint pens are acrylic water based markers so they can be easily removed if you make a mistake. Be sure to check out @surfpaints Instagram page for surfboard art ideas. Step 5 – Paint your surfboard with surfpaints Shake the paint pen to allow the ball inside pen barrel to mix paint. Prime and test paint pens by pressing down on test paper to fill the nib with paint. Once the pen has a clear line and flow on test paper then it is ready for applying to surfboard. If the paint flows less freely during application, then re-prime pen on test paper. Place the pen cap on after use to avoid drying out the nib. Paint is permanent on porous surfaces such as surf leashes and removable on non-porous surfaces such as fiberglass. A varnish spray is required over fiberglass and other non-porous surfaces in order to prevent paint rubbing off. Please see Step 6 for applying a varnish spray. There are plenty of ways to use paint pens so check out the videos (attach here) or follow @surfpaints for tips and tricks. Step 6 – Apply a varnish spray to seal the art work. This step is very important. As a fellow surfboard painter, I’ve experienced too many disappointments with surfboard art coming off due to not applying a clear coat varnish spray correctly. The common mistakes are not applying enough coats for sealing the paint from scratching off or not using the right clear spray. The clear coat needs to be an acrylic clear varnish spray paint. Acrylic paint is a non-toxic, water based paint, that dries fast and works best on surfboards. Other paints like enamel are generally oil based and designed for indoor use which can crack the paint and turn a surfboard yellow over time. Spray at least 3 coats of spray paint over your artwork. The first 2 coats should be very light coats and allow 10 minutes in between each coat to settle. The 3 rd coat should act as a heavier coat by holding the spray nozzle down longer and using in a machine like motion over the art work. Allow 24 hours for the clear coat to fully set and seal the paint work. A good way to test if the surfboard is sealed is to lightly rub your fingers over the board and make sure there is no smudging or paint peeling off. If there are some spots that are smudging, then you will need to touch up again with the paint pens and apply more clear spray to the affected area. Once you are happy with the sealing of your artwork the board is ready to surf! Please share your artwork on Instagram and tag @surfpaints for your chance to win a monthly prize. If you make a mistake – Removing the paint. You don’t always need chemicals to remove surfpaints paint pens! Please follow the below steps if you are required to remove paint at any stage of an art project.
- If it is a minor mistake, then try go over the area again once the paint has dried
- If the paint is wet, then simply wipe away with a rag or paper towel until it has disappeared. Sometimes you will see a smudge mark left which may require a light rub using steel wool.
- If the paint is dry, then use steel wool to remove the paint.
- If the paint has been clear coat sprayed, then sand back the clear coat and artwork using 120 – 180 grit sand paper.
A few things to keep in mind
Soft top surfboard and Bodyboards.
Soft top surfboards and bodyboards. These boards can be painted with surfpaints paint pens. The bottom of a soft top surfboard and bodyboard generally have a plastic slick surface which allows pens to apply freely and can be sealed with an acrylic clear coat varnish spray (Follow how to paint a surfboard steps above).
However, the top of soft top boards consists of a spongy foam like substance filled with air pockets. Surfpaints have trialed with this for a couple of years now and have found that the pens go on smoothly but it is very hard to seal the paint with a clear coat varnish spray, which means it will come off eventually in the water. The main reason the paint can’t be sealed is because once you press down on a soft top board it will break the dry clear spray which will crack the paint and come off. Some soft top boards adhere better than others and can last longer with a clear spray. However, surfpaints do not recommend painting on the TOP of a soft top surfboard or bodyboard because it will not seal and therefore not be a permanent art piece on your surfboard.
How to Paint Your Surfboard with Dish Soap
Today, you can actually choose what surfboard art you want on your brand new stick. Aside from the dims, some shapers also give you the option to either choose from the stock designs they have available or hand over your own. And in approximately 6-8 weeks (longer if your specs are complicated), you’ll receive your brand spanking new surfboard.
A dish soap painted surfboard | Pinterest
Sure you can get your board professionally painted but where’s the fun in that? Have you considered painting it yourself? There are actually a lot of ways to DIY and here’s an easy one to achieve that perfectly splattered paint design.
You’ll need:
– Painter’s tape
– Acrylic spray paint
– Acrylic clear coat
– Construction paper or newspaper
– Sandpaper (220 or 500 grit)
– Acetone
– Dish soap
Procedure:
- Lightly sand the area where you want your design to go. Wipe it with acetone afterward to remove any residue on the board.
- Layout an area for color and tape it. To avoid overspray, tape some construction paper or newspaper around it. If you chose an area where the logo is and you’d rather not have it covered with paint, place some tape over and trim around it.
- Spray on your base colors. This is the color that will show through the soap streaks. You can skip this step if you’d rather have the original color of the board as your base. Let it dry for a few minutes.
- Once the paint dries, soap your board. You can go as random or as precise as you want. There’s a tendency for the dish soap to run so do this as quickly as possible.
- Spray some paint on your soap design and leave it to dry. You can use a blow dryer to shorten your waiting time but just be sure to set it on low heat and keep it moving around so you won’t damage the fiberglass.
- When the paint is completely dry, rinse off the soap. Remove the tape and construction paper or newspaper, and wipe the board dry.
- Finally, to make sure that your design doesn’t come off easily, spray it with some clear acrylic paint.
And you’re done! All things considered, painting your board is fairly easy. If you’re not confident DIY-ing your new surfboard, try it on a few of your old ones first. This way, you get some practice and give your old boards some new life at the same time.
The dish soap technique offers endless design possibilities. And because it’s pretty random, the chances of you finding another board with a similar design is very slim. Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong way to do this. Just let your creativity take over, and you’re all good.
Here are some short tutorial videos (if you prefer those):
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to shape your own board, we have a beginner’s guide right HERE.
Have you tried painting your board with the Dish Soap Technique? Share your tips below!
For more surfing stuff like this, subscribe HERE
Step 5: Get Painting!
Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s time for the fun part. Try to take your time ensuring even coverage of your paint.
I like to use paint pens because you can add quite a bit of detail to the area you want to paint and they are easier to control than a paint brush.
Once you have finished your masterpiece, leave the paint to dry – ideally away from potential hazards like bugs or flies, small children, and animals!
Step 6: Time for Clear Coat
Once the paint has completely dried, you’re ready to apply clear coat.
This is simply a clear laquer that will prevent any damage to your art, and extend the life for many years to come!
Follow the instructions on the can, but it’s basically a case of spraying on a thin layer, with just one or two light coats.
And thats it, you’re done!
Matt Hapgood
Matt Hapgood is a father, surfer, and entrepreneur. He has worn many hats in his career, from being a removal guy in Vancouver to teaching elementary kids in the UK, as well as a parking valet in the French Alps. He’s the founder and main contributor to MattHapgood.com and is currently living in the Algarve, Portugal.
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