Is there such a thing? If so, how much? and where do I get them? (not practical to make my own on account of CF costing $30 / yrd and I suck at making glass fins.)
EDIT: when I say “carbon fiber” im not talking bout that carbon light crap on FCS website… im taking about REAL carbon fiber.
EDIT 2: heres a pic from berts post… this is what I mean…
*all credit given to bert on these fins… you do a terrific job.
hiya Scott !!
…I just laid up a couple of carbon fibre fin panels…
I cheated a bit though , as I only used two layers of carbon fibre in amongst the other layers of 5oz flatweave . They look okay, I reckon. Once I’ve cut them out , foiled them , and ridden them , I’ll let you know how they go .
Carbon fibre costs $59aus a metre [39"] here in West Australia, but thanks to the generosity of one Gary “Aquafiend” here , ‘free’ for me for this round of fins ! [thanks heaps, mate !! … return gift coming your way soon ; “it’s in the mail” …]
I liked the stuff so much , I will eventually ‘splurge’, and buy myself some more …
See if you can either get offcuts , or if you can buy , say, half a metre’s worth of carbon fibre cloth, perhaps ?
ben
[“bonus shot” …
A rough as guts , unfoiled , unfinished single tab carbon fibre side fin , for a 2+1 setup on my fish [used with a matching big carbon fibre single fin , too]… made from scraps left over from the single fin panel… like I say , it’s not finished yet …this is just to give you an idea …
p.s. - this photo is not to scale , either …the fin is only something like 2" base , 2 1/2" depth , from memory [I think it’s at Hicksy’s , maybe ]
O ya… do you remember what post you did w/ the picture tutorial of making glass fins? i forgot what it was called and you have 136 pages worth of posts.
you have 136 pages worth of posts.
is that all ?
Okay , “your homework for this week is …”
…actually…you’re in luck ! [see my last posts “edit”]
ben
see , I anticipated [your] …“where’s the photo…?”
well …nearly 11pm here now …catchya tomorrow …ZZZZZzzzzzz…
Howzit Scott, Just got the new FCS catalogue yesterday and they still only make the carbon lights. Also my rep sent me some of the new plugs and they look awesome, can’t wait to install them. They even sent a survey questionaire for me to fill out with any feedback about the new plugs.Aloha,Kokua
How can I get my hands on the current FCS catalogue? do you have to personally know them?
Howzit Scott, Pretty sure you might need an account with them but they had the products on the old website and might put them on the new one. I haven’t checked their site for a while since it was under constrution the last time I went to it. The pages are bigger than my scanner can handle or I would scan and e-mail it to you. Aloha,Kokua
Can you explain how to set up an account w/ FCS and how much are the costs associated with it.
Howzit Scott, First you need to get in touch with whoever is the FCS rep where you live. You will need a resale license and will probably need to fill out a financial form. They will probably want you to order an installation kit and at least 12 production fin sets to start. One plus to having an account with them is you can also buy their accessories at whole sale prices. Aloha,Kokua
Heres the predicament im in… i dont know if there are any reps in texas. I looked at contact info on their website and it just said hawaii and california.
Howzit Scott, Where are you located, I can probably ask my Rep who would be the person for you to cantact. I have put some FG-series fins and plugs up for sale in the Swaylaocks store.Aloha,Kokua
Sorry guys all the fins are sold.Aloha,Kokua
hey scott…what’s wrong with the fcs carbon lites?
if the end result is the same (lighter, stiffer) what diff does it make?
sounds like what you really want are custom fins…you can make them yourself or tee it up with halcyon…
ps - just finished my first set of custom fins…full foiled fatty floaties…stoked but took way too long to make
I had a set of carbon lites on my last board and didnt like them very much. I had the largest carbonlites they made and had problems with the trailer fin coming out of the water alot and I was on a relatively flat rockered board. Also, I wanted to make an oversized CF fin similar to the hatchet design for a nose rider I just started. also, the carbon lites dont even look like carbon fiber. I want to get that 3-d carbon fiber look you see in performance cars. (in short, I want to make a radical carbon fiber fin if I can… if i cant, atleast get the same look out of it.)
they don’t have a rep in oklahoma just amber wave of grain
Howzit pierp, Probably have to work with California Rep. Aloha,Kokua
“… I want to get that 3-d carbon fiber look you see in performance cars. (in short, I want to make a radical carbon fiber fin if I can… if i can’t, at least get the same look out of it.)…”
You can !
You will !!
[if you use a FEW layers of carbon fibre , then clear glass between , and outside the carbon] .
For example , on one I made , I layed up 10 clear layers of clear 5oz cloth first , then one layer of carbon fibre , then ten layers of 5oz cloth , then one layer of carbon fibre , then ten more layers of clear 5oz cloth … it looks “3D” , as you call it .
I say try it , Scott !
If you’re making smallish side or back fins [thruster setup?] , you WON’T need a lot of carbon fibre to do it this way …
cheers !
ben
p.s. - bear in mind that the carbon fibre is thicker than the 5oz cloth , so you will end up with a good thickish fin panel quite easily. [Or , at least , MINE was … and I did ! ]
p.p.s. - is that YOU in the avatar photo ? [it definately looks like your fins all broke free on that air !! Did you land it ? heheh ]
hi again Scott !
here’s another thread I remembered which has some shots of carbon fibre fins in it , as well as assorted madness at Hicksy’s shed …
hope it helps !
ben
…you can see why I cropped my head in the other shot eh ? not pretty.
hey kokua just giving him a little shit
