In this episode of Hands On, we’ll go through the steps we take to remove old traction and replace it with a new set from Agenda Surf. It can be a time consuming processes, but as you’ll see in the video, it’s nothing to be afraid of.
1. Take the fins off the board, it’s easier to work with a surface that’s not constantly tilted or wobbling.
2. Using masking tape, or a pencil with very (VERY) light pressure, mark where your current traction is located. Put a piece of tape or a pencil mark at the top and bottom of the current traction. If you want to adjust the placement of the new traction, adjust the pieces of tape or pencil marks. If your board doesn’t have any traction, use the masking take to mark where you think it should go. Look online for pictures of your board with traction for reference. Or, stand next to your board on the ground in a surfing position to see where your feet will naturally be and mark those spots on the board.
3. Begin removing the old traction. There are two main methods to accomplish this and they both need to be done carefully. But first, if you are using wax on your board you’ll want to remove it at this point. This can be done with a wax comb and/or pickle/wax removing agent.
3a – Using a hair dryer on the lowest warm setting, begin using it to warm up the traction while peeling it off slowly. However, you MUST exercise caution. Letting your board get too hot can cause delamination and other various issues. Make sure to start with the hair dryer far away from the board and then work your way closer if needed. We cannot emphasize how important it is to not overheat your board.
3b – Leave your board outside in the sun on a warm day. Once the traction is warm, begin to slowly peel it off. again, you MUST check on your board often. Leaving your board in the sun for too long can cause delamination and other various issues.
4. If any small pieces of traction and/or glue remain on the board, use a product such as goo-gone to get rid of it making sure to use gentle pressure. Once this is done, clean and dry the top of the board.
5. When you’re ready to apply the new traction, make sure to do a test run first. Set the traction in place without removing the paper backing. This will allow you to check alignment and make sure the new traction will fit the board in the same place as the old (using the tape and/or pencil marks to verify placement).
6. When you’re ready to stick the new traction to the board, remove a small portion of the tape from the back of the EVA. Align it while holding it above the board and once ready, lightly lay it down. If it’s in the correct position, put a little pressure on the portion that has the paper removed, this will stick the traction to the board. From there, lift the opposite side of the traction and remove the rest of the paper backing. Gently press down on the rest of the traction to make sure it adheres to the board.
7. Once all of the traction is on the board, rub your hand over the board using slightly more pressure to ensure a good bond. Then, if possible, wait 24 hours before getting your board wet.
