25 March 2026

How Our Personalised Wooden Surfboard Plaques Are Made

Go behind the scenes and see how our personalised wooden surfboard plaques are made, from premium American black walnut plywood and precision CNC carving through to hand sanding and our signature board butter finish on the Sunshine Coast.

How Our Personalised Wooden Surfboard Plaques Are Made

Step 1

Starting with premium American black walnut plywood

Each plaque begins with premium American black walnut plywood. We use two precision-cut 3mm layers which are bonded together to create a final 6mm thick surfboard plaque.

Step 2

Designing the artwork and personalisation

Before carving begins, we prepare the full layout for each order. This includes the surfboard shape, engraved artwork, and the personalised name or names that will appear on the finished plaque.

Because every plaque is personalised, each one is individually set up to ensure the final composition feels balanced, clean and beautifully suited to the customer’s chosen details.

Step 3

Why we use CNC instead of laser engraving

Once the design is ready, the timber is placed onto our CNC machine and the carving process begins. We use CNC carving rather than laser engraving because it gives us an ultra clean engrave without the burning that can happen with a laser.

The CNC also allows us to control the engraving depth to the tenth of a millimetre, so we can engrave precisely through the dark walnut layer and expose the beautifully contrasting light timber beneath.

That precise depth control is the secret to a crisp, even finish every time. A laser cannot control depth with the same precision, and because timber hardness can vary from one spot to another, laser engraving can leave a less even result.

Step 4

Hand sanding and shaping

Once the carving is complete, each board is sanded and shaped by hand. This refines the edges, smooths the surface, and removes any machining marks left from the cutting process.

Hand-finishing is a big part of what gives each plaque its polished, premium feel while still preserving the natural character and grain of the timber.

Step 5

Finishing with our in-house board butter

To complete each plaque, we apply two coats of our signature Coastal Keepsakes board butter, made in-house from organic beeswax and a highly refined food-safe mineral oil.

This nourishing blend enriches the timber, enhances the natural grain, and deepens the walnut tone with a soft, rich lustre.

It is one of the final steps that transforms the plaque from freshly machined timber into a polished keepsake with warmth, depth and a beautifully refined finish.

Order yours

Ready to create your own personalised surfboard plaque?

If you’re looking for a meaningful coastal keepsake, our personalised engraved wooden surfboard plaques are made to order in-house on the Sunshine Coast using premium materials, precision CNC carving, and hand-finished detailing.

Whether it’s for a nursery, bedroom, playroom, beach house or a thoughtful gift, each plaque is crafted to feel personal, polished and made to last.

Order Yours