I’m looking to purchase some fins, I’ve got probox inserts.
What fin brand works with probox? What is the best online source for fins & fin selection?
thanks guys.
Josh
Probox!!. Also fcs fins. Probably a few more.
FCS fins will fit, but won’t give you the fore-aft adjustability that is one advantages you get with the Probox system - the other being cant adjustability.
Actually, you do still get fore-aft adjustability with FCS fins in a ProBox, it was designed that way, and of course cant adjustment also works because of the insert!
The main drawback when comparing an FCS fin to a ProBox fin is base stiffness, which has an effect on the overall flex of the fin if it has been designed with any kind of flex.
It is also worth pointing out that because of the V-notch in ProBox fins you get a much more solid compression fit with them than FCS, downward pressure of the screws on the notch helps compress the fin and insert into the box, making for a more solid fit!
thanks guys…
who has a good selection of probox fins, the probox site isn’t that great.
Howzit randomgo, Try the probox website for fins, they have a good selection to pick from and Larry keeps adding more all the time.If you can't find what you want there then check FCS, between the 2 you will find what you want and if you don't, then get in touch with chipfish and have him make you a set because he is the man when it comes to making fins. Aloha,Kokua
Larry has way more templates than what's on the site. call him up...
the site needs to be updated IMO ... too much cool stuff that's not on there
Thanks Crisp I'll give him a call this week.
Like everyone else said, Probox & FCS fins fit a Probox box. Futures do not however. Use a fibreglass Probox fin in your Probox box and you will really notice just how firm they are.
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Like everyone else said, Probox & FCS fins fit a Probox box. Futures do not however. Use a fibreglass Probox fin in your Probox box and you will really notice just how firm they are.
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Hit the nail on the head there, very solid feeling ,but still twangy
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Howzit randomgo, Try the probox website for fins, they have a good selection to pick from and Larry keeps adding more all the time.If you can't find what you want there then check FCS, between the 2 you will find what you want and if you don't, then get in touch with chipfish and have him make you a set because he is the man when it comes to making fins. Aloha,Kokua
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...you're too kind , Mike , thanks !!
I defer to Larry , however , HE'S the man , having seen a pair of his Aipa twinnys [thanks Beerfan , for letting me borrow them!!]
yep , i think there might be something in that v notch handshaper mentioned , to make them a good fit in the proboxes . Need to get me a router or sumtin' to get me those grooves.
I definately enjoy making fins with the probox tab , as opposed to having to fiddle with the two fcs tabs and , hopefully , the snugger fit they give .
yep Randomgo , if you come up with any er different templates you want to try , let me know eh ? although , that said , Probox Larry DEFINATELY has some really interesting fin templates on his site !!
cheers
ben
I’ll agree that Pro-Box are superior fins and Larry is great to deal with.
He also has thorough instructions on the Pro-Box site for cutting down Futures to fit . The 1/2" base rear fins can be modified fairly easily while the 3/4" base side fins take a bit more finesse to do.
I add a small vee notch on my FCS fins for Probox and FCS with a dremel or file. It’s easy to do and better to have that extra bite.
If I’m not mistaken, Hand-shaper was the original designer or one of the original designers of the Probox system.
Aloha sharkcountry:
It is an excellent idea to do what you do to your FCS fin when using them in a ProBox, still allows them to work fine with an FCS plug but makes for a much better compression fit in the ProBox.
You are correct that I was one of the original designers of the box along with my partner Mitch, we then sold the system to ProBox-Larry!
Aloha chipfins61:
Just get a 45 degree V groove router bit and it is fairly easy to make the notches. I do it on a small router table (mine is a $99 Ryobi table that came with the router for that price, very solid), then setup the router bit so that the point of the bit is 1/4" from the fence and then route each notch 3/4" long. I setup a stop on the fence to define the length of the notch. The only tricky thing to be careful of is the rotation direction of the router bit, because of the direction it means that one of the notches can be routed by pushing the fin into the bit, but the other one you have to put the fin against the stop and then drop it down onto the bit and then push away from the stop. If you have one of our plastic fins handy it is really easy to use it to adjust the fence to the correct width, as well as to set the router bit depth.
This will all makes sense once you try this as it can be pretty scary how you can mess up the fin base if the router goes crazy, and trying to push into the router bit in the wrong direction is a recipe for disaster, trust me I know. Since figuring out the push pull approach I have never had a problem with any of the fins I make. We always route the notches before we foil the fins, just in case something goes wrong we have not wasted the effort of foiling the fin. But it can easily be done either way.
Having the notch makes a big difference in the overall fit of the fin in the box!
thanks Robin !!
if i’m too scared , i’ll try it with a file first .
it’s always getting the tab thickness precise when i hand lay up fins that takes a bit of time and tinkering .
i love making different stuff though .
today a guy bought some fins into the longboard shop that were …well… out of this world
i’ll try to photograph them next time at col’s !!
Aloha chipfins61:
You are right about getting the thickness of the bases right, it is a real hassle. That is why I mainly use G10 because you can get it at almost exactly a 1/4" so most times it takes no sanding at all. Larry has a special machine that machine the bases down to the right thickness. My plan is to one day get my self a 16"/32" drum sander that I can send the panel through to get it down to exactly the correct thickness. Make life easier!
Look forward to seeing those interesting fins, I’m always interested in something different!
Hey Robin, you would be another person to see if I ever get over to Kauai. Be an honor to see some of your boards.
Aloha, Harry
Aloha Harry:
If you are ever in Hanalei please stop by and talk story as I’m only a few hundred yards from the beach near the Pavilion, I’d love to show you some boards!
FCS will work stock, but I know Larry has put out a few Youtube videos and facebook posts about how to convert Futures to Probox systems. The only problem is that you cut the base, so you are perminantly dedicating the Futures set to Probox, where FCS needs no alteration.
to see the video click here