So i shaped a nice little single fin and just got done glassing the bottom with a yellow tint. Everything went well except for a little spot on one rail where the glass actually folded over as i laminated and didnt notice and i didnt have enough left to flaten it out once i found it, no big deal learning experience. The other thing that was really hard for me to get the hang of was the rail bands. I had a crappy blank do I did three different rails and ended up with a ten inch wide surfboard, haha. anyways I think because my planer doesnt have a good depth adjustment(cheapo harbor frieght) I cant make the bands vary along the blank indepth. Does any one have any suggestions on that? or know how to modify the harbor frieght haha. I tryed to do multiple, varying in length bands but it is then near impossible to hold the angle.
Hey Cliff! I too have one of those HF cheapo planers. I was also frustrated with the VERY TIGHT adjustment knob. So… I went to Home Depot and found a softer spring. It’s a little narrower than the original and a bit longer but I can now adjust the depth MUCH better. Give it a try.
here are the pics, i just hot coated it, and still need to do a fat pin line and put a fin box in it. anyone have any suggestions on putting a box in with out a router, i do have a dremel tool. also does any one know how to put in a leash loop that goes through the center of the fin box so you dont have to put in a plug?
I did this board with a template from a little al merrick single fin, the one machado rides. i just bought in the nose a little and it is a little thicker rails. the rails are partly thicker cause of my rail banding issue, ill try the spring on the harbor frieght. with the new spring do you adjust the depth on the fly? it clicks at certain intervals and it takes a whole spin to go from nothing to full. i would like to figure a way to make it useful for depth adjustment on the fly during rail bands. thanks for all the help!
In a pinch, ive used a razorblade to intall a finbox… turned out ok, but I highly advise against it… best thing to do is invest in a good router if you plan on making more boards. looks good for a first board though… keep up the good work! also… if you want a good plug without tearing into the board, you should look into an O’Fishl glue-on leash plug (or equivalent brand). I put one on my first board and it still is stuck on strong.
I have used a dremel tool to put a fins unlimited fin box. It was very time consuming having to be very careful
where I was cutting. It’s just a matter of marking the lines for the hole. Most people have a jig made for a certain
model of router they use which makes it very simple to do. As someone said if you plan to do more boxes in the future
you might want to invest in a router. I just purchased a laminate trimmer which works like a router but is a lot smaller.
It worked very well to make the holes for the probox system that I retrofitted on my kneeboard. It took out the fcs
plugs no problem.
I think I have seen what you want for a leash attachment. If I’m right they drill about a half inch hole from the deck of the board down to the box. Fill the hole with resin and fiberglass when resin has cured drill new hole through center of
resin through top of box.
I’ve never done this before and it’s just what it looks like they have done to me. You can always glass a loop of fiberglass
rope on the tail of your board. Ive done that it works well sanding it to a nice shape is the hardest part.
