How to Sand a Surfboard the Professional Way

A proper sand job is essential to the ride, feel and aesthetic of a surfboard. There are a ton of ways to sand a board and just as many finishes which really gives each brand or glass shop their own personal stamp. With so many ways to sand a board it’s still very easy to spot an amateur sand job because the only way to get good at sanding is to sand hundreds, even thousands of surfboards. It’s all about coming up with your own process that works and staying consistent throughout it.

We often get asked the question, “how do I sand a surfboard?” We thought it would be a good idea to show you how the guys over at the Hawaii Surf Factory like to finish out their “sand only” short boards since they do so many of them. John Gentile of John G Surfboards is a true master at surfboard sanding and the star of this tutorial. Not a professional sander? Don’t let that discourage you. Once your shape and hot coat are done, get in on the action yourself!

Here is the list of tools used in the video. You can click on each product and find it on our website for further pricing and information.

220 grit wet/dry sandpaper
400 grit wet/dry sandpaper
600 grit wet/dry sandpaper
50 grit grinding disc
surfboard polish
8” hard Flexpad sanding pad
8” medium Flexpad sanding pad
8” foam polishing pad
Tacky adhesive
Variable Speed Sander/Polisher 0-5000 rpm (we do not currently stock this item)

Optional sanding schedule:
150 grit
180 grit
220 grit
320 grit

Be sure to check out our other how-to videos here for more great instruction from the pros on template making, shaping, glassing and much more!