Making glass on fins with colored beads.

A while back someone asked me to do a how to thread on colored/tinted fin beads.  I just started 4 new fins for our new noserider model and took some pics.

First thing was to cut and glue up the woods the way you want them. 

 

 

 

 

Then cut and true it up to your design you want.  I leave the fin unfoiled and about 5/8 thick for noserider fins.

 

 

 

 

 

The next step that I do is baste the edge with my colored lam resin and styrene 2-3 times. 

 

 

 

The next thing that I do is make a dam from self sticking weather stripping foam on a sheet of glass.  I use car wax to make sure the fin easily pops off.

 

 

 

 

After finishing the mold I start pouring layers of resin.  About 1/8" thick for each pour so it doesnt crack.  you can used milled fibers if you wish to make the bead a bit stronger, but I have found it clouds it up.  When foiled the bead is going to be quite small and you will be glassing over it, so I never use the milled fibers.

 

 

 

Thats all I have for now.  I will continue updating this thread as I progress.

 

Let me know what you think.

Austin

 

I need this info

this it great knowledge Austin

Like a catapiller turning into a butterfly ...... ummmm ummmm

good stuff

W

Thanks Austin

Always inspired by your craftsmanship and your willingness to share.

Keep up the good work , can’t wait for more.

Cheers

Mooneemick

 

Ok now the beads have been completely poured.  I use a piece of 1/4" tape and a piece of 1/8" tape around the fin to make the 3/8" bead that I want.  After taping I bandsaw off the excess. Right up to my tapeline.  Here are some pics.

Next is to foil the fin.  Pics will come as I finish the steps.

Austin

 

Ok here are two of the fins foiled and ready to baste with clear styrened lam resin.

 

 

Here they are after their first cheater coat of resin...

 

Thats all for now.

Austin

 

 

got my eye on you Austin

very nice!

This is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing.

Well we got really busy and I dropped the ball.  Basically after the last step I showed you laminate 3 layers of 4oz cloth on both sides and hotcoat both sides.  After hotcoating sand with 80 and tack them on the boards.  Here is a finished shot of the first one.  I should have a few more shots this week.

 

Austin