cutting fin from lay up panel

the last time i layed up a glass fin panel, i let the panel cure and then scored a cut line on it from the template, and attacked it with a sabre (jig) saw…it was a pretty miserable experience since i didn’t have a daimond blade. i went through about 5 steel blades and it took friggin’ forever! today i layed up a pretty thick panel,3/8"+, and when it got to medium gel stage (more or less) i put my template on the panel and cut the fin out with a box cutter. like buttah, baby! took about a minute. i’m not saying that i’m mr. inventor or anything, but i hadn’t seen this mentioned yet so i’m sharing. g’day

the last time i layed up a glass fin panel, i let the panel cure and then > scored a cut line on it from the template, and attacked it with a sabre > (jig) saw…it was a pretty miserable experience since i didn’t have a > daimond blade. i went through about 5 steel blades and it took friggin’ > forever!>>> today i layed up a pretty thick panel,3/8"+, and when it got to > medium gel stage (more or less) i put my template on the panel and cut the > fin out with a box cutter. like buttah, baby!>>> took about a minute. i’m not saying that i’m mr. inventor or anything, but > i hadn’t seen this mentioned yet so i’m sharing. g’day All at once? How many layers? What cloth strength? How hot did it get? Kevin

36 layers of 6 oz. …i did a careful initial pass with the blade that might have gone 10 layers deep or so, and that was my guide for the second pass, all the way through to the plate glass below. i didn’t mix real hot, it’s 90 degrees down here

Howzit, Ramon!..Gotta go with the rotozip tool, bruddah! Can’t be beat for cutting out fins. (get the carbide cutting bits). Tom@daum, Jim P., Herb, and Tom S. ought to be chiming in, presently!

Geeze!..I should read the posts better before I respond…sorry, eh! That’s an interesting tip…did the fins bend any while in the “molten” state ? Any bad fraying?

hey, Tom…i’m sure the roto’s a great tool. i had the luxury of time this morning and was able to check the panel periodically till i thought the time was right to cut it. this was just too easy. i’ll have to smooth the outline just a wee bit, but the thing’s ready for foiling. thanks for the tip about the 'zip!>>> Howzit, Ramon!..Gotta go with the rotozip tool, bruddah! Can’t be beat > for cutting out fins. (get the carbide cutting bits). Tom@daum, Jim P., > Herb, and Tom S. ought to be chiming in, presently!

36 layers of 6 oz. …i did a careful initial pass with the blade that > might have gone 10 layers deep or so, and that was my guide for the second > pass, all the way through to the plate glass below. i didn’t mix real hot, > it’s 90 degrees down here If this setup works, I owe you… (accepting, the fact that I may screw it up all on my own.) Its just that 36 layers all at once is not something I would have thought I’d get away with, … I’ve only been able to get myself to risk 12 or so at a time. Add the box knife trick and … … I Can’t wait to try this! Kevin

no bending, just a hint of a fray around the tight tip radius…but this is getting tapered anyways. i would do it again in a heartbeat.>>> Geeze!..I should read the posts better before I respond…sorry, eh! > That’s an interesting tip…did the fins bend any while in the > “molten” state ? Any bad fraying?

Hey Ramon! That is a great tip. I did a big panel last Fall for making old 5x7 wide base Fish fins. I used the same method you did with a sabre saw. It was slow but not that bad as mine were layered to fit FCS rather than Bahne boxes. What did work surpisingly well for me was to use SunCure catalyzed resin. I was able to use a light tint color and ended up with a ready to cut sheet in short order. Hmmmm…all I would have to do is do a short UV exposure to start the cure, cut while still pliable then re-expose for final curing. Great idea mano! Tom S.>>> the last time i layed up a glass fin panel, i let the panel cure and then > scored a cut line on it from the template, and attacked it with a sabre > (jig) saw…it was a pretty miserable experience since i didn’t have a > daimond blade. i went through about 5 steel blades and it took friggin’ > forever!>>> today i layed up a pretty thick panel,3/8"+, and when it got to > medium gel stage (more or less) i put my template on the panel and cut the > fin out with a box cutter. like buttah, baby!>>> took about a minute. i’m not saying that i’m mr. inventor or anything, but > i hadn’t seen this mentioned yet so i’m sharing. g’day

36 layers? thats insane. is this normal for fins. by the way i also need to know because i busted off a glassed on fin today. whoops! thanks austin

i’m making a large fin for a longboard. it all depends on how thick you want your panel to be, austin.>>> 36 layers? thats insane. is this normal for fins. by the way i also need > to know because i busted off a glassed on fin today. whoops!>>> thanks austin

I make a MDF pattern of a fin…Then I use a couple drops of hot melt glue to attach the pattern to the fin blank ( I use wood, but glass works too)…With a router table with a flush trim bit, I cut out the fin…With a putty knife I then split the pattern from the fin…Consistant every time…