My first shaping shack was a lean to behind the shop/garage on the family house when I was a teenager. I talked about that here.

The second place I shaped surfboards at was Pacific Plastics in Ventura. Then I went on to Morey Pope and had a shaping bay at their facility when it was on Front street in Ventura.

After that I went out off the east end of Main street in Ventura and set up the William Dennis shop where I had a room to shape in. Later I went out to Saticoy and worked in a bay for MP again. Then I went to Santa Barbara and set up a shaping bay with Wilderness surfboards.

Over the years I’ve worked in or set up shaping areas at least a dozen other times that I can think of. I’ve had Black ones, Blue ones, Green ones, multiple colored ones. Small ones, medium sized ones, large ones, wood floor, cement floor, carpet floor… no dirt floors… that I can think of anyway, hot stuffy ones, air conditioned ones, one I could see the surf from even.

It’s important to set up your room right. You need the lights at the right height so they cast good light but not have glare. If there is too much light or is too bright in the room not only do your eyes fatigue but, you can’t see high or low spots or inconsistencies in your work. Then again you don’t want the blank to dark either. The height you like your shaping stands should dictate the height of your lights.

Since what we do when shaping is walk, walk , and walk some more, it’s also best that the floor is level and flat. If you get in a room with a cement floor and there are low and high places in the area you're set up in you will fatigue easier as well possibly develop back problems.

So basically setting up a shaping bay is more than a room with some lights on the walls. I’ve got my preferences and things I like so I’ve been seriously taking my time setting up the one that may be the last one I will ever have. And hopefully it will be home for where I work for many years to come.

I’m almost finished!

D.R.