Brad at Wood Surfboard Supply ("Tuck" on Sways) sent me a couple fin bases a while back, one for a longboard fin, one for a shortboard fin. I finally got around to starting a longboard pivot fin.
I have some balsa plywood the same thickness as the insert tab. So I cut my fin shape out, then cut the tab shape out of my fin shape. Then I glued some wood strips to make a fin.
I don't have an actual plan, just winging it.
good luck lets see some pictures of how it turns out
Great thread Huck! Can't wait to see this one through! Those fin bases are very handy. How will you attach them?
Thanks - they're in the prototype stage, I know he plans to offer them commercially very soon. A great time saver, takes care of the tedious part of fin building, so you can concentrate on the fun part. The tab just epoxies into the slot I made for it, I guess you could use resin, I'll probably just slather it with 20-minute epoxy glue and jam it in.
2nd layer of glass. I didn't have any roving handy, so I used some nylon leash-anchor cord.
...fascinating !
those fin bases are a GREAT idea, as long as you can attach the fin strongly somehow ??
anonymous "ghettorat" is probably "bored" with THIS , too eh ? [hahaha.... what a wanker ! 'amuse me , or i'll whine like a baby' attitudes are not needed here , sways is all about creativity and ....having FUN !! ]
cheers !
ben
.....life is only boring if YOU are boring .....
that big tab slides up into the fin, so yeah, it'll be plenty strong.
Nice Huck!
~Brian
wooohoooo !!!
let us know how it RIDES eh ?
thanks HEAPS for posting these shots , Huck , WELL done , mate !
enjoy ,
ben
Brad send me a couple to try out too:
Boco-Rio 10" pivot fin design for his Evo longboard that i'm building in paulownia = offcuts for the fin
[IMG]http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn229/blue-pig/P7150559.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn229/blue-pig/P7150561.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn229/blue-pig/P7150562.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn229/blue-pig/P7150563.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn229/blue-pig/P7150564.jpg[/IMG]
not as slick as Hucks operation but it will come good in the end!
cheers guys !
Q:
CAN this stuff [the tab] be easily foiled , so that one could lay up a fibreglass [possibly pigmented?] fin incorporating it , i wonder ?
ben
funny how that worked out - my fin is a pivot fin for a boco - inspired longboard (he walked me through the shape on my surfers surfing surfboards forum, although I didn't get the rails as thin as he really suggested) http://forums.delphiforums.com/surfersover50/messages?msg=54.1
I dunno about easily foiled (the stuff is tough!), but with an angle grinder with a coarse grit sanding disc, I was able to work it (I had to grind the tab down a bit). I'm sure it could be done, with a bit of patience and persistence.
"but with an angle grinder with a coarse grit sanding disc, I was able to work it (I had to grind the tab down a bit)"
....does the stuff melt a bit when you hit it with the grinder's high revs , huck ?
cheers
ben
[quote="$1"]
....does the stuff melt a bit when you hit it with the grinder's high revs , huck ?
[/quote]
no, mine didn't
Hi Ben,
Yes it can melt if cut with high revs / fine grit disk.
It tools very well with hand tools such as hand saws, files etc.
If you do use power tools you have to think mainly about getting the waist material out and away or it gets too hot.
So for example on a table saw, band saw or jigsaw it cuts much better with fewer cutting teeth. This keeps it cool and the chips are removed.
The same would go for sand paper. Very course grit and short hits on the material to keep it from heating up and it cuts easily.
Brad Tucker
Wood Surfboard Supply
thanks Tuck !!
ben
Hi all, new poster here. Can anyone tell me if those tabs are available anywhere? I am in the process of making a few fins and dig the concept of slotting those tabs in instead of constructing them myself. Thanks in advance.
That fin base is a greeeeeaaaaaat idea! I spent so much time trying to make my own fin only to have the base crack and break several times and I finally gave up on the project.