Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR Sept 2009
Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR Sept 2009
"The inception of the design is pure Billy Hamilton, a Surfboards
Hawaii Stylist I, the original surfer that Skip Fry wanted to be. I've
had this concept in mind for a long time, but had never brought it to
fruition.
A 9'9" US Blanks foam core was my starting place. When I received
notice that I was being considered for the Billabong event, the idea
came to the surface once again - I sketched it out roughly and then
started seriously plotting it out.
The decision to actually put saw to foam was the first obstacle, but as
my Dearly departed father said to me many times, "The devil hates a
coward.” The first few cuts were easy, but as I started to go "around
the corner" this was where difficulty started to step into the picture.
There was no easy way to use clamps on this layout. I have 6,8 and 10
foot pipe clamps and by butting them against the tips of the already
glued sticks, I could get a bite on the nearly straight outline.
When all 17 stringers were in place, I next needed to install the "sun"
which needed to be mechanically accurate so free handing it was out of
the question. I have several professional big routers so I made a
template to route the curve accurately into the blank. The replacement
piece of foam needed to be a true arc, but 3/32 nds smaller in diameter
to accommodate the redwood stick that would separate it, kind of like
an annulus, from the rest of the design. This was accomplished but
taking a piece of old Walker Foam and shaping it to the same curve and
gluing it, along with the wood into the blank.
It was now time to lay the Stylist I template on the blank and put saw
to foam and cutout the plan shape. With pencil on foam the circular saw
was put into play and the planshape came to life. With the outline cut
I would normally clean the outline with the planer, but wood grain 90
degrees to the planer was a guaranteed blow out of the stringer ends.
Fortunately I have a carbide grit planer and used this to keep the
outline clean and free of splintering.
Once it was time to get to work with the planer, the very nature of the
design had its own problems; the stringer layout made the blank very
flexy in the center and the amount of stringers as well as the varied
angles was another concern for the blades. The blank had to be
balanced over my shaping stands in a particular way to help control the
flex. To control the stringer blow outs or splintering I used the
regular planer with newly sharpened blades to rough out the board and
then I pulled out the carbide grit planer again to do all the finish
work.
After all the planer work was done, the block sanding went fairly fast
for what it was - I had prepped it well and knew what was in store for
myself heading into the final stretch.
The fin followed the same design as the blank which I laid up with
volan cloth, the same as the boards glassing, redwood, foam and
pigment. It was completed in 2 days...just in time.
This is not the Michael Angelo's Sistine Chapel, but nevertheless, a masterpiece by anyone’s expectations."
Concept. Glue up. Shape. Red Gloss Color. Fin. By Jim Phillips
Foam 9’9” by US Blanks.
Airbrush sun color on foam by Sam Cody.
Fin lamination and gloss by Keith Swanson.
Volan lamination by Alex Villalobos
Gloss by Brian Johnson
Polished by Tracy Evans.
The wood is old growth redwood salvaged from a 20' tall wine cask that
used to be in Napa. The wood was so soaked with red wine from over the
years that milling the wood gave off a strong red wine aroma. This
board would go great with a 2 lbs Kobe rib eye and head high waves.
All photos by Jim Phillips












Come on down to ASR this weekend at the San Diego Convention Center to see her up close...
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Ahhh ... Holy Crap! That is just , well, stunning. I will be getting ahold of you to order a pig pretty quick Mr. Genius. Sir.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Speechless.
Resinhead
-Some people are like Slinkies- Not really good for anything but bring a smile to your face when pushed down stairs.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Hey Jim thats pretty cool...
You'd be like me, in the "lets take it too far just because we can" camp...
Bet the rail with all the stringers coming out was a bitch to shape! I find three hard enough...But you like a challenge?
And I wonder if there's a performance possibility, with assymetrical flex...
Josh
www.joshdowlingshape.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Wow, This is something very special.. I think you just raised the creativity bar. Thanks for epanding the possibilities!
D
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Ridonkulous!!
I can't imagine what went into the glue-up. No wait, I can't imagine what went into the planer work. No wait, I can't imagine what went into the..... Oh never mind....
mike@coilsurf.com http://coilsurf.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
That is beautiful. Nice work and keep up the creativity!!!
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
um....wow. extra wow. wow squared. I doubt anyone but Jim could have pulled this off.
Remember: it’s all fun and games until someone looses an eye. Then, it’s a challenging scavenger hunt.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
AWSOME!!!
You're not going to wax and ride it are you? Send that beauty to the museum!!!
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Jim....Thank you. That board is a true gift. It is simply the most extraordinary piece of craftmanship I have ever seen. I don't believe anyone, ever, would have even attempted such an outrageous design concept, let alone actually execute it with such precision. Your "Rising Sun" board has affected me profoundly. To me, it is the embodiment of everything you represent as the Master Shaper. I will never approach your level of craftmanship, but I can and will try harder to emulate your work ethic, and do the best job I can.
TP - "Wish I was shaping right now instead of just talking about it..."
www.tp4surf.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Jeese JKP that is unreal!!! Chris Green would be proud. Not even bumpy. I see it as a tribute to your old man..... who used to shake his head in wonderment at our wild schemes. Brookah
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
In the fifty plus years that I been involved in surfing/surfboard construction, only a handful of people have ever impressed me.
Jim Phillips is one of them.
Bill Thrailkill
Shaper since 1958
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
In the fifty plus years that I been involved in surfing/surfboard construction, only a handful of people have ever impressed me.
Jim Phillips is one of them.
Bill Thrailkill
Shaper since 1958
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Very nice Jim!
BB
You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
Buckminster Fuller, 1895-1983
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
WOW !
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
And that, my friends, is why they call him "The Genius".
Although for those of us how know him well the term hardly even comes close to describing the guy.
"Wooden Boards for Iron Men"
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Such pleasure... thank you Jim.
kc
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Beautiful work. Ham-o should be allowed to ride it, just once. After all, boards are meant to be ridden.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Pretty damn impressive Jim!!
Now I have a real reason to drive down to the ASR this weekend.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
ZOINKS!!!!!ZOWWWY!!! Pure art.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Wish I could have watched you shape this. Awsome work!!
Life's A Wave
"Enjoy the ride"
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
WHAT??????!!!!!
NO MATCHING SUNRISE TAIL-BLOCK??????!!!!!!!
I wonder what the devil would think of that...
(I didn't know what to say but I had to say something. So I tried to be funny (instead of crying because I realize I will never reach that level of craftsmanship).
________________________________________
"You should have been here yesterday..."
http://www.guetharysurfboards.fr
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Sorry for the missing images...you can seem the board at the show or if you can't make it check out www.jimthegenius.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Jim is the man.Completly stocked looking at his new website.!!!
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
There's only one JKP and he puts his heart in everything he builds.
mike@coilsurf.com http://coilsurf.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Hey Jim I had a look at your site...love it, love the standard of work and the non-pop-out attitude...
If I may ask...tell us about the black-and-white shots of yourself, a shape and a shaping shed. Old? How old?
Josh
www.joshdowlingshape.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Some surfboards blow you away ... on the art and soul and craft and spirit and ... in a word: stoke... in them -- Jim Phillips shapes those kind of surfboards more often than not.
-----------------------------------------
http://www.howcast.com/users/TheSwimChannel/profile/videos
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
First off thank you Royce and Billabong for a spectacular evening.
The event heard a few nice subtle claps and a few hoots but it came to a roaring climax when the board by Jim came, eh hem, up to be bid upon.
Jims board went for ~$8400. It cleared about $5K more over the next closest. Whoa. The buyer....Rusty. Some slick poop.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
$8400 sounds like a deal. There's at least a million dollars worth of experience in there.
mike@coilsurf.com http://coilsurf.com
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Congratulations, Jim.
VERY WELL DESERVED, IMO.
Bill Thrailkill
Shaper since 1958
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
I first met Jim when we were both around 16 years old and building boards in the Hickam Air Force Base wood hobby shop in Hawaii. Back then we new very little and got cussed out for dripping resin on the floor. Jim always knew he was going to be a board builder. I am glad to see him getting his due after 50 plus years.
Jim is a lot more than just a shaper.He is a true artist in all aspects of board building. He taught me everything. Shaping...glassing..sanding etc. etc. I never even came close to his ability. He was always one step ahead. I am stoked as hell for you Jim.
Glad to see you kicking Bill...how do you feel?????
Re: [cleanlines] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ...
Roger and all, I was at Surfermag.com, a friend of mine posted the video of the board being auctioned, I am in the lower right hand corner, Roger will tell you, that is my Old Man sitting there !
Everything I hated about him when I was 16, is everything I have become today, he was the master craftsman I emulated, he hated me building surfboards, it was in the way of my education, ruining my path to the Air force Academy.
He realized I was determined to lead and not follow, he saw some successes for me, but unfortunately the successes that I would have wished for him to be by side at came to late for this life. Every day he is still with me, guiding me, damn it I miss him so much
Former gremmie, who followed his dream to do the best job possible
Re: [jimthegenius] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ...
Well said, Jim.
I'm sure your dad is very, very proud of you today. Looking down and smiling...
mike@coilsurf.com http://coilsurf.com
Re: [jimthegenius] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ...
where are the photos?
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
http://www.jimthegenius.com/Jim_Phillips_Surfboards/Billabong_Art_of_Shaping.html
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Jim,
It is a pleasure to see you receive the recognition for your abilities, that, in my humble opinion, is way overdue. I have never met you, but have had the opportunity to do some hands on look at your work. Nice to see such a talented craftsman to get exposure that is long overdue. Personally, I am more than a bit weary of the "Shaper of the Month" roled out by the main stream surfing media. I always wonder what the "wonder boy" of the month would do without a close tolerance blank to start from. I place you in a small minority of craftsman who can start with a block of foam or wood and create from there.
Regarding to your reference to your Father, we share a common bond there. My Father was a Naval Pilot, who always wondered why he started my surfing career in my Keiki days in Waikiki. The passion for surfing pretty much derailed whatever hopes he had for me regarding an education and a career. We had such conflict back in the day, over hair length, cutting school to go surf Number Three's, and my passion for the water. As I grow older, I find myself becoming more and more like him. At times, when talking to my Son, I am blown away when I realize I sound just like him.
Again, I am very happy for your success. It is well deserved.
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
What you didn't hear unless you were at the show was that after Rusty sealed the deal and the show was over he and Jim met at the front of the podium. Rusty said, "My morning routine is to get a cup of tea, turn on my computer and open Swaylocks. A few days ago I saw that someone had posted an image by image build of your board and I was blown away...I had to have it." How many others here follow that same morning routine? I know I do....though mine is on my iPhone and not at a desk but there is a chair...of sorts.
Thank you Royce Clayton of Billabong the event was really fun.
Thank you Rusty. If you're reading I really enjoy the new site and have had that as a tab acrross my browser for weeks since it was launched.
Re: [jimthegenius] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ...
two thumbs up !
good to see that you're doin' the deeds mr. jim.
hope all is good with you mr. clean !
now.....i must walk the 200+lbs. of dogs i own..........that's two dogs!
then........i can go either fix other people's mistakes................. or make some of my own !
lol.
summer's over.
herb
____________________________________________________________
evil prevails where good people fail to act.
____________________________________________________________
Re: [surfore] Jim Phillips - Billabong Art of Shaping ASR ...
Back to the top for this great Sways story.
G'mornin' Rusty - ya done a good thing and made a nice investment there...
mike@coilsurf.com http://coilsurf.com