I noticed there wasn’t a thread about the new boxes from gearbox so i wanted to start one. These are the best boxes I’ve seen for 2 tab fins hands down. The install kits are cheap, even cheaper if you use your own bearing bit but worth it to get theirs anyway. First, Robin and crew made these about as dummy proof as possible. There is an arrow pointing at the rail on both of the jigs; they use a stacking jig set up for the two cuts. I should have taken pics of the jigs but i didn’t. The positioning target is molded into the base jig, and there are convenient notches inside the jig to make sure you’re lined up while cutting. They suggest to make the deep cut first, but after practicing on some scrap foam i found it easier to do the shallow flange cut first then do the deeper cut. For the deep cut there is an insert to the base jig, its a close tolerance cut so you have to be careful but nothing that anybody on here couldn’t handle. Cutting didn’t take any longer than futures 2 step cut. Pretty basic and simple. Its cool that you could use any trim router you prefer for these.
The boxes have a high density foam insert over that coool gear pattern box, so that your lam over bonds to foam instead of plastic!! I thought it was rad that the resin oozed through the edge of the hd foam and the lip of the box definitely seated well in the board. You just have to make sure to set the screws, i forgot on mine. No real biggie because they were deep enough to scuff the die cut stickers off carefully and sink the screws before i knocked the tips off em. They just look so good to me. I had about 1/4" play with these h3 quads in my new whip. I know you guys will trip on the gearbox2 system!
I kooked it and didn’t weigh the boxes, more on the way I’ll let you know. They felt very light what was so important to me is the design. It’s so awesome for a 2 tab box to have this nice fat flange, especially when setting in light eps! I’ll weigh some and report, def light.
It looks like a thicker flange (sandwich) that connects lower on the box. You could probably sand a little into that top plate (for bottom contours) without compromising the plastic part of that flange. Fins made for that box would have the 1/2depth base for the entire length of that slot plus the longer full-depth rear tab.
Yeah, I got my kit a couple weeks ago. Everything about it looks well-designed and solid. Robin’s a very sharp guy, and I think he’s definitely built a better mousetrap here. I’m beyond amped to use it.
Looks very cool- Robins acid covers. I like the option of making the covers out of anything. Robin and Lancelot have a winner for compsand boards. I will order some for the next board!
Ha, that’s pretty trippy. I’m pretty sure that for now they only have the white ABS inserts available, but there’s quite a bit of potential for changing the aesthetic built into the design - something else that makes it unique.
These covers were made form some glass ripped off the bottom of a snapped board that had a really beautiful acid splash on the bottom, thought it would be a good way to re-purpose some of the board.
Really stoked to see some discussion about the system, it has been an incredibly long and slow process getting this baby to market but we are finally getting there and have lots we will loke to do with it.
One thing I would like to clear up is that currently the box ships with a sanded ABS cover! We did an insane amount of testing with different materials to try and find something that would bond well to a resin system. Turned out that ABS was one of the best. Our goal had originally been to make the covers out of a HD foam but it turned out to be close to impossible to find someone that could do it in a nice white foam. We haven’t given up on the idea but are taking the time to find the right solution.
The critical thing about the whole concept of the load beam collar and cover is that we wanted to be able to use a different material over most of the flange that would enhance the bond with the bottom laminate, as opposed to the glass-filled LEXAN that the box is made from, which has excellent bonding properties, but not as good as some other materials which do not have te great structural properties of LEXAN. I can’t tell you how much testing of resin bonding to plastic we have done over the last few months, very humbling experience learning about all this stuff.
Someone mentioned that depth of the collar, this is another critical aspect of the design in that it allows us to still get some good sheer strength once installed because of this depth. It is also true that it does make it possible to do some shaping of the collar if needed.
Really stoked to see what people do with the system now that the journey has finally begun, mahalo!
BTW, it is worth mentioning that there is more to the routing system than just being able to do the standard two-step rout. The system also allows you to do an install that utilizes a HD foam block to make a more stable install in low density EPS. This install utilizes a single rout into which the HD foam is installed then the bottom cavity is routed into the foam. This makes for a really solid platform for the box to rest on! We will have these HD foam block available pre-shaped to fit the routed cavity! Initially these will be a two blank density PU foam, but will also do DCELL blocks as well. Tons of information on all this on our website!
While the GEARBOX system handles twin tab fins just fine, it really comes alive when you use our base, which as gdaddy mentions is a solid base, with a small semi-circulard cutout in the center. It is the same length as a ProBox base The key is that the base is solid across the entire length of the top of the slot, so it has a very solid feel and allows the fins to flex much more naturally. There is 3/16" of adjustment fore and aft in the slot!
BTW, the reason for the cutout in the base is because there is a small bridge in the center of the slot to help dissipate loads and tie the two sides of the slot together!
I uploaded a photo of the fins base, hopefully it worked, I have not done this in awhile!
