Good or hype?

good shape bad glass

I've had a few over the years and the glass jobs have all been superb. I'm hard on my boards, and I destroy most of them pretty quickly. All the JS's have held up a treat.

Excellent high performance shapes built well.

What board are you considering? My mate just bought a Revolution and absolutely loves it.

Not really heard a bad word about them to be honest. Seen a few broken but no more than any other brand. A few of mates absolutely swear by them and have 2 or 3. The Blak Box looks a nice shape for summer.

the Blak box was my favourite board for a few years. but then JS decided not to make them anymore for the shelves and replace them with monstaX, which I found not up to the same standard. it's true about the glass work....normally got 8months before I ended up snapping it from back foot or front foot compression. found some boards really similar, the mayhem sub scorcher and a Clearwater monkey chop that I found up in Mandurah

+1 for the black box - great small wave board

i've also had a fmn - brilliant in quality waves

I currently have a pier pony as a micro groveller - even this has lots of range - great in fast down the line waves up to head and a bit.

No doubt the JS boards are nice.

After I snapped my 5'8 Clearwater Round Nose Fish (which I loved) I picked up a 5'8 Revolution off the rack as I needed a board right away. I actually wanted a Blak Box but the Revolution was the replacement apparently.

Glassing was fine. Decent board, but like many small wave boards it seemed to be more suited to mushy/gutless surf rather than the waves we get in WA. Once in shoulder high surf I found it stiff and rails too boxy. Chop on the wave made this worse. Regardless, it was still my go-to board and I liked how it got in early and made late take offs.

Sold the Revo. Now got an order for a 5'8 Katana Skud which I'm pretty excited about.

Ive had a 6-3 js revolution for 4 months now... i find it a great board with the right fins up to 4 foot!! after riding firewires-both technology for the last 3 years ive found it just as durable with only minimal depressions!!! considering Im 100kg!! It still looks new!! I will purchase another one!!

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bene313 said..

No doubt the JS boards are nice.

After I snapped my 5'8 Clearwater Round Nose Fish (which I loved) I picked up a 5'8 Revolution off the rack as I needed a board right away. I actually wanted a Blak Box but the Revolution was the replacement apparently.

Glassing was fine. Decent board, but like many small wave boards it seemed to be more suited to mushy/gutless surf rather than the waves we get in WA. Once in shoulder high surf I found it stiff and rails too boxy. Chop on the wave made this worse. Regardless, it was still my go-to board and I liked how it got in early and made late take offs.

Sold the Revo. Now got an order for a 5'8 Katana Skud which I'm pretty excited about.

it should be ready early next week ben

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MornoPom said..

What board are you considering? My mate just bought a Revolution and absolutely loves it.

the dropped swallow looks the goods,...

Ridden JS's for the last fewyears and the glass issue made by those who don't have one and want to bag out something for the sake of it cos it's cool to do so. I'm 90+kg so heavy with my knees and feet and they don't pressure anymore than any other board, I'd actually say they hold up better than most. Currently got an off the shelf monsta and a custom FMN with 6x4 on the deck and the difference in pressures are negligable.

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blueball said..

Ridden JS's for the last fewyears and the glass issue made by those who don't have one and want to bag out something for the sake of it cos it's cool to do so. I'm 90+kg so heavy with my knees and feet and they don't pressure anymore than any other board, I'd actually say they hold up better than most. Currently got an off the shelf monsta and a custom FMN with 6x4 on the deck and the difference in pressures are negligable.

+1 Ive had two and both were well glassed, Ive had boards that were alot worse than them, R. .

Boards don't always collapse due to the glassing, it's mostly the blank on a PU that collapses before the glass does, the glass has no choice but to collapse with nothing under it to hold it up.

I've had 1 layer glass boards that have lasted far longer than double layer with soft foam.

There are far more advanced ways to make boards, the trick is making them to last and feel like a board you want to ride at the same time.

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CMC said..

Boards don't always collapse due to the glassing, it's mostly the blank on a PU that collapses before the glass does, the glass has no choice but to collapse with nothing under it to hold it up.

I've had 1 layer glass boards that have lasted far longer than double layer with soft foam.

There are far more advanced ways to make boards, the trick is making them to last and feel like a board you want to ride at the same time.

Do the blanks come in grades CMC? Ive got a couple of blanks at home and I couldnt see any markings on them.

Blank density isnt often marked on them specificly, but by the colour glue used to glue the stringer in or the colour paint used to write on the blank.
But this is not the case with all brands.

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Bertie said..

Blank density isnt often marked on them specificly, but by the colour glue used to glue the stringer in or the colour paint used to write on the blank.
But this is not the case with all brands.

Intersting, mine are Buford blanks. I will check glue colour

So a heavier blank =

- less buoyancy
- weighs more
- dings less

My lewy blank grade must have been "piss weak" grade. Like a golf ball after 3 surfs

Yep loads of diff blank families depending on who you get them from.

Check out Midget's place - Surfblanks Australia - he has some great descriptions of his blanks. Some real noticeable differences in them in the flesh. The last board I made I used a 1960's style blank - significantly heavier than the later models and a huge difference between his superlight ones. Dense blanks = weight = lasting. As CMC says though - massive trade off required between what lasts and what is great to ride. Heavy boards though can be great in certain conditions.

http://www.surfblanksaustralia.com/about-us/our-business/our-story#.Um4ttb_NU_s

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WA71 said..

Do the blanks come in grades CMC? Ive got a couple of blanks at home and I couldnt see any markings on them.

Maybe you should start a build thread and get busy Doggie

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Ted the Kiwi said...

WA71 said..

Do the blanks come in grades CMC? Ive got a couple of blanks at home and I couldnt see any markings on them.

Maybe you should start a build thread and get busy Doggie

Need space, I've got tools and blanks and half an idea

Btw that square tail you shaped is stunning, I would be very proud if mine turned out half as good

As already stated most blank companies have multiple densities of weight. I could tell you more here but I'd have to delete it straight away

The other issue with PU is that the hardest part of the blank is the skin and very close to it, to shape the board you have to cut the strongest part off literally making the board weaker just to shape it. The foam is much softer in the middle.

The problems here can be that when shapers use thicker more general purpose blanks and cut deep into them to get what they want they leave only the soft foam exposed. Combine this the odd bad blank as PU formula and blowing foam is super temperamental and you can get the odd board that is heavy and soft... No matter how this is glassed the decks will be soft, the rails dint from duck diving etc.

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blueball said..

Ridden JS's for the last fewyears and the glass issue made by those who don't have one and want to bag out something for the sake of it cos it's cool to do so. I'm 90+kg so heavy with my knees and feet and they don't pressure anymore than any other board, I'd actually say they hold up better than most. Currently got an off the shelf monsta and a custom FMN with 6x4 on the deck and the difference in pressures are negligable.

Same experience for me too. Currently riding the Occy model. It has been up to Indo 4 times already and still going strong. The first one I owned "disappeared" at Impossibles after snapping my leggie. Came straight home and bought another!

I've few JS boards over the years and really like them. Sure, I've had a few dings and repairs here and there, probably down to user error rather than a problem with the board itself.

I've had a FMN and Occy in indo and loved both, I have a Blak Box that is suited very well to Perth beachies, and I've recently scored a garage sale Pier Pony that has me out having fun on days when I normally wouldn't bother.

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CMC said..

Boards don't always collapse due to the glassing, it's mostly the blank on a PU that collapses before the glass does, the glass has no choice but to collapse with nothing under it to hold it up.

I've had 1 layer glass boards that have lasted far longer than double layer with soft foam.

There are far more advanced ways to make boards, the trick is making them to last and feel like a board you want to ride at the same time.

I have a kingpin and while the board goes good the construction isn't great.....glass job is standard 4oz all over with two layers on the deck, what CMC says above is correct....I've notice some variability in the blank quality of the ones I've seen on the racks (tell tale is usually that the blank has been sprayed or dusted white before glassing) and my board for instance when you look closely has a couple of voids that have been hidden or attempted to be during glassing, I've also noticed that there are cracks starting to form around the fcs plugs (not visible yet but can see small salt crystal buildup) despite never having hit anything and being stored with the fins off. guess it comes down to what you are after if you want a board that goes good and you are going to move it on in a year then yeah no worries, if you want it to last and ride it into the ground then no....but mostoff the shelf boards these days will be fairly similar in quality/construction

^^^

For the record here, I know JS uses Burford Blanks which are the best you can buy in Australia.

Also, all boards made in QLD are sprayed white, even though there are UV inhibitors in the resins the white paint helps to keep it whiter longer.

My point was that a lot of the time people blame bad glassing which is quite often incorrect, not to say that there is no difference between good and bad glassing but JS like any of the reputable manufacturers only employ skilled tradesman.

A novel fact for you Wozzies is that Matt Branson (EX WA Pro surfer and legend) glasses for JS. He's good at his job and some of the sanders there also are without doubt top notch.

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CMC said..
A novel fact for you Wozzies is that Matt Branson (EX WA Pro surfer and legend) glasses for JS. He's good at his job and some of the sanders there also are without doubt top notch.

I remember him - and all his tats!!! He was like the Matt Archibald of Aus - MB and Matt Hoy - imagine how the pro tour would take them now !!!!! I imagine he is the most well known surfer that have come out - although Westerly would be up there too. MB was (and probably still is) an amazing surfer - a real charger.

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WA71 said..

Need space, I've got tools and blanks and half an idea

Btw that square tail you shaped is stunning, I would be very proud if mine turned out half as good

Thanks Doggie - had my second surf on her this morning in some fairly nice shaped 3 footers with a few bigger ones and its going well ......Re yr shape....just move some stuff round in the garage.....cut most of the foam away outside so it does not make too much mess.......finish it in the garage with some decent lighting.....add some tarps as drop sheets for glassing and off you go.....clean up after yrself and the missus will not mind I cleaned our shed out on Sunday arvo - it looks like I was never even there - given what it looked like on the Friday and the previous 6 weeks its surprising

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CMC said..

^^^

For the record here, I know JS uses Burford Blanks which are the best you can buy in Australia.

Also, all boards made in QLD are sprayed white, even though there are UV inhibitors in the resins the white paint helps to keep it whiter longer.

My point was that a lot of the time people blame bad glassing which is quite often incorrect, not to say that there is no difference between good and bad glassing but JS like any of the reputable manufacturers only employ skilled tradesman.

A novel fact for you Wozzies is that Matt Branson (EX WA Pro surfer and legend) glasses for JS. He's good at his job and some of the sanders there also are without doubt top notch.

I'd agree with that also, the workmanship I don't question....I've seen WAY worse...I'd just say that good workmanship won't make up for poor materials (not saying they are) but for the JS that I own (a year or so old) the blank quality is in my opinion not great it does have voids in it (up to the size of my little finger nail that have been filled, that said I did see a couple on the rack this morning and they look better than mine (substantially).

One other thing I'd add is that construction and durability are also effected in my opinion by size and weight of the rider if you are 100kg like I am then a low density blank like burfords green or red (can't remember if the red is right) and a light glass job won't be anywhere near as durable as the same construction with a 60-70kg rider. There's not a lot of info readily available out there on the materials or construction of boards though they do vary wildly.