Shaping my first board and today I went to install the fin boxes (futures) and didn’t have dummy fins so I used some old ones to help set the boxes in place. I made sure to tape the bottoms of the fins as to not let epoxy trickle into the fin box but it appears that’s what ended up happening. Now they are stuck and won’t budge, I’ve tried rubbing alcohol along the seal and using a razor to cut up the seal also, but to no avail. If anyone has had this happen before any advice to get the fins out would be huge. I’ll include pictures as well.
rubber hammer,
push or pull with the leash cuf arround your hand.
air compressor needle trough screw hole.
look i am no pro but this would be what i would try to see what happens.
cheers and good waves.
Same for me, not to much forces but enough vibration/impact with rubber hammer to un glue plastic fin.
If it don’t go, cut fin at base, route it in plug with a thin mesh then a razor blade. Fucking job to do but good to improve your tech with those tools.
Sorry this happened, what a pain! The dummy fins are just for setting the plugs i.e. getting the angles right. So the resin is thickened, and shouldn’t be runny, nor near the fin itself. Any resin work after that is with the fins removed & the plugs taped over.
Anyway, try the suggestions mentioned, let us know how it goes. There are other more extreme possibilities that could be tried, depending on your comfort level working with power tools in a confined critical space. Like a router or dremel tool.
I hope the problem is already fixed as I write this. But let us know, be interesting to hear how you fixed it.
Do what Huck says. Play it safe next time. Mix Cabosil with your resin whether Epoxy or Polyester. Get it as thick as mayonnaise. Spread it around in the cavity with a popsicle stick or small acid/glue brush. Tape off the slot to insure no resin gets in the slot of the fin box. Put enough resin mix in the cavity to insure that when the fin box is pressed down resin mix will ooze up through the slots in the flange of the fin box. Wipe excess resin from the flange and foam. NOW, press your dummy fins down into the box. Check for cant and tape off. When I use Cabosil mix I don’t even bother taping off the slot. Cabosil mix is paste like, it doesn’t run. You have to be pretty sloppy to get Cabosil resin mix in the slot. I use a cut down plastic squeegee (2”) to clean up around the flange. If you want to see this method used, watch Greg Loehr’s Epoxy 101 video.
Hey everyone, I ended up using a rubber mallet and a razor blade acting as a chisel to help loosen up the epoxy. Eventually it worked and I got both out. Thanks for the advice, next board I make (hopefully by next week) I’ll make sure to consider the thickness of the resin as I think mine being runny played a big part in my error. Here’s a pic of what the fins looked like after I got them out.
Yeah if it is thick like Mayo or whipped cream cheese(I’m getting hungry for an onion bagel), you’ll have no problem. I like spreading it in the routed cavity with one of those metal handled glue brushes. Very cheap at Harbor Freight. Get enough resin in the cavity and when you press the box down resin will ooze right up through the little slots in the flange. Wipe off the excess with your finger and a plastic squeegee. No muss no fuss. If you do get any resin in the slot, you can easily see it and clean it out with a paper towel moistened with acetone. Wrap the paper towel around a one gallon paint stick and wipe the slot clean. How’s that?
