Recycling traction

At $50 a pop, I LOVE to recycle traction. Same process would apply for swapping out old used traction.

The glue on the bottom of traction will soften with heat and then with slow steady "pulling" it will come up.

I use a hair dryer to heat the traction. Focus on one section at a time. I like to work from right to left. The heat will transfer across making the next piece easier to heat and remove.

I've found the trick is to just get an edge started and then heat the underside of the traction at the glue line...work slowly, too fast and it rips or you stretch the traction out.

The traction removed from the board will still have a TON of glue on the bottom...anything you touch it too will stick - dirt, EPS beads, etc. Also, if you lose a piece, check your butt.

Stack the removed pieces, upside down and organize them so that you can reapply them in order.

There will be some residual glue left on the board. If you're just replacing the traction, I don't worry about removing that. If you want to remove it goo gone or any heavy duty cleaner will take it up.

I'll reapply this tomorrow and hopefully remember to snap some pics.

use a waxed piecw of mylar to store traction or wax paper

That's a great tip brewkettle - I had planned to just swap the traction last night, but didn't make it.

I've found that for the most part you can just swap the traction across without anything but pressure. But if the glue is gone, a quick shot of 3M HS-90 takes care of it.



A little worse for the wear, but ready to surf.

Great article Jeff.

I wonder how this board ride?

Thanks Robert. We're heading out tomorrow, I'll let you know how rides. I'm not sure the webbing did anything, but it's a pretty stiff board for being stringerless.

cant see well , is that a stepped deck??

No, probably just an optical illusion with the webbing. I really want to try that - somewhere I tested an old PolyU blank and it's easier to shape and glass than I expected.