Introduction
So a ding is basically any noticeable blemish in the board's fiberglass covering. It usually manifests itself as a cracked windshield like fracture. It could be long and skinny (like my rail dings, typically) or short and wide (if you hit a strategically placed jagged rock). You may also not think you have a ding at all, or anything worrying about, then you start noticing a slight yellow discoloration in a certain area-well, odds are you are letting in a little water in that area. Which affects how your board floats and even maneuvers.
What you need
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So, to begin, we need a nice clean working area. My place is small so I used my patio set (not the best idea though, as my wife flipped when she found out I was using toxic chemicals where we occasionally eat, just beware.)
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Things you will need:
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Surfboard with dings
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Cleaning tools: wax comb, rag, and Gloves!!!
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Resin, Q-Cell Filler, Hardener, Fiberglass Cloth
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Mixing cup, stirring stick,Transparency
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Sand paper: 1 rough grit and 1 fine grit
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Starbucks (optional)
Ask FixBot
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Next, you need to identify the dinged areas and figure out which method you prefer to use. I used cloth repair on the bigger ones (and the rail ones) and then the sun cure on the small ones (because I have heard it works well enough on small stuff).
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Now we need to clean the dinged area of all the wax and fiberglass flakes.
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Grab your comb and scrape any wax from around the area to be repaired.
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Sand down, approximately 1/4", till you have a nice smooth surface.
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Cut a small groove (in the direction of the ding) to give the repair mixture somewhere to seep into.
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Now we come to the mixing process.
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First figure how much resin you are going to need to adequately cover the cloth piece with a little to spare to pre-dab the dinged area.
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Add Filler, it helps to make the solution less watery and more workable
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Then add the hardener; you only need a little and it really depends on the temp. Your box should say what is appropriate for your particular weather.
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Mixing Process (Continued)
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Put the fiberglass cloth that you cut into the mixture.
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Stir the cloth in slowly to cover the cloth with mixture without causing air bubbles.
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Application Process:
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Pre-dab the area with some of the solution, if there is a chunk of the fiberglass gone, use the solution generously to fill void.
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Spread the soaked fiberglass cloth over the dinged area and smooth it out with your fingers.
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Use the transparency to spread the cloth evenly, working out any noticeable bubbles.
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Application Process (Continued)
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Hold the transparency in place (be aware that it will not stay put).
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Use tape (scotch, masking, painters) to secure the edges and make sure the transparency is held down tight
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Curing and Finishup:
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Let the mixture cure.
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It should take, depending on your weather, about 1 hour or so to dry completely.
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Don't remove the transparency until dry.
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Once dry, remove the transparency and use a fine sand paper to even out any new bumps from the new fiberglass surface.
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Then, voila! your board should be back to working order. Get out there and this time try to be more careful on the trip back to the car. ;)
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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