I just started shaping my on fins out of a composite material. When I surfed the fins I found that they had to much flex. I was wondering how to go about making tinted laminate sheets to cut and shape fins from.
Hey Well that depends how long your fins are going to end up. Regular glass, like 32-36 layers of 6oz, is about the width of FinUnlimited/Chinook boxes. For fins longer than say…11", it seems regular glass delams quickly, so G010 is needed (computer pressboard). Lay it up on a sheet of glass, with the bottom side taped with duct tape. Tint, pigment, or swirl as desired.
I plan on making a fcs thruster style side bites 4" or so and a cut out center fin about 7". I think I know what type of glass to use but I’m not sure on how hot to make my resin,how much tint to use, and if I need to use a wax additive because I’m going to take so much off the laminat.I’m also not sure if I should lay all the layers down and force the resin through or to wet one sheet at a time. So, I really don’t know anything thank for your help.
Hey Jesse I’d just order thru Rainbow Fin Co. or True Ames Fin Co. But if you want to try it… Lay up on a sheet of glass…tape the bottom side with duct tape so it doesn’t shatter if you happen to sqeegee to hard. Cut the cloth about 2" oversized, but your three fins should be OK with like a 12’ x 12" layup, then cut with bandsaw or skillsaw. I like laying up 5 layers at a time, I’m retarded and can’t handle wetting and sqeegeeing more layers. Do the whole 30odd layers in one single batch of semi slow resin. Color…remember you are adding 30 some odd layers, and a light tint will look super strong and opaque. Don’t add styrene…you can sand laminates easily. More than 5 layers really accelerates cure time, and if it starts to set, STOP immediately, have a smoke, and proceed with a new batch of resin. 24 layers of 8oz is the same thickness, but flexes more than 38 layers of 4 oz. Depends type of cloth, of course.
If you want to make both rail fins for FCS and make them with flat and foil one side 22 layers of 6oz warp glass will work fine. Make a panel you can get both of you fins out of. Use 32 layers of the same material for your Bahne box center fin. If you want to make you center fin the same color as the side fins mix your the color into sanding resin, which is all you’ll need, first. I’ll like to catalyze my resin about 8oz. at a time. This way you don’t have to worry about the stuff going off while you working it. If you are making a big panel bigger batches are fine. I go two layers at a time. I like to be as conservative with material as possible. The best way I’ve found to get a completely air free lamination is to spread the resin with a hard rubber squeege and then roll it. The roller makes all the difference. A piece of glass or even wax paper on a hard flat surface to work on will serve. There rest is having the right tools, touch, and the eye to produce what you want. Good Luck, Rich