Hello,
I am looking to experiment with creating some different wood removable SUP fins. I have found a lot of resources in the forums and in other places on the web, but the one thing I still can’t find is how to make the base of the fin? I am not sure if ‘base’ is the right word, but I am talking about the bottom of the fin that get’s inserted into the fin box. Is this possible to do with wood? Will it be strong enough? Any help is appreciated.
Thanks ahead a time for helping a noob.
Chris P
Hi,
Most wood fins have a lam’ / resin base. I think (as a noob) it’s more solid than full wood and it is probably easier to drill holes in it without risking the inside wood to rot (screw and pin hole).
A good link if did not know it already:
http://www.taiyosurfboards.com/news/?p=428
Gd luck.
Z.
Bitchin’ link Zourite, thanks for posting that!!!
That’s a great idea with the metal angle bars as a mold/resin holder. Is a soild resin base enough?
I’m thinking some chopped glass would be a good idea.
I was thinking an epoxy/cotton flock mixture like Duuuude was using for homemade fin boxes might work:
http://www.swaylocks.com/forums/my-own-finboxes
I am wondering if this might be an example of what Lemat frequently says, the epoxy will be stronger than the filler (wood flour, FG fiber, cotton flock).
Mixing chopped roving creates bubbles and weakens the base. One way to solve this is to wet out roving strands and set them into the mold. Leave it more on the wet side and it will slide right into place.
Dave
the way the pro production cos. do them is, the wood panels are run through the thickness sander, trimmed to the inside shape minus the halo. 19 layers of 6oz., the panel, pre sealer coated, liberally set in a lake of resin and the remaing 19 layers laminated on top of that. The foiling creates a lens shape naturally, looking like a full thickness piece of wood
Is that 19 layers of 6oz per side? The op referred to a removable fin. Would the 19 layers still be valid and how thick should the wood base be?
Geez Jim! Those are some GOOD looking fins!
An understatement…
Jim,
What kinda wood are those beautiful simmons keel made from? Redwood?
That’s some beautiful work with those fins.
The keels are burl redwood, 19 layers- wood insert and 19 layers, FU mic’s then out to .385 when run through the thickness sander pre base mill, after milling .375 with a 2 degree taper for the box fins.
I build a core for the glass ons, bond the laminate to the outside, flip, align and bond to the opposite side, run them through the planer to bring the wood down to a heavy 1/16th per side, bandsaw them out and foil, the keels only have wood on one side, I am doing a pair for Steve Mast out of curly Koa, wood both sides, full foils
