I’m currently working on a 5’10 surfboard for kiting: 20kg core, top is skinned with 2 layers 6oz and .6mm Bamboo. Outside 1layer of 6oz. I wanted to put in the inserts but I’m not sure if they need reinforcement.
Anyone with experience?
Hey Mook.
I just drop my foot strap inserts into the deck with 2 layers of 6oz. in the hole… I considered core-cell inserts for them, but I don’t think you need it… I guess if you were doing lots of jumping, pulling up on the straps more, perhaps, but I ride strapless 95% of the time anyway…
http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/SurfSailcom/surfsailcom.html
Scroll down to the bottom of the page, I use the 3 hole inserts #65-5553 that use a 10-32 machine screw
You can use any of the inserts shown on this page they all work well… I rout a 1/2" wide slot the length of the insert and just pot it in with glass… After that,you sand them down flush with the deck, then glass over them when you glass the deck with cloth…
I hope that helps
I assumed you meant foot strap inserts… If you were reffering to fin boxes, Yes, HD foam inserts should be used for kite surfboards,imho…
Thanks Kiterider, I use different inserts but I think I;ll give it a go
… the ones on the right…
Sorry however you will have failure with those inserts: they are made for woodworking.
I perfere PVC or Phenolic based fixtures.
I have built a few tow boards for Todos Santos and never had a strap rip out.
Kiterider gave you a good link and it would be Ideal to use it or find a supplier in OZ.
Hey Surfding, and Mook…
I’ve used the T-nuts shown by Mook many times, and they hold as good or better than most… If they’re set into a 1/2" deep strip of Core-Cell, wood or PVC… The larger piece of HD foam spreads the load over a larger area and can take the forces… T-nuts would pull out of regular surfboard foam over time…
So to answer Mook’s original question… Yes… Set them in PVC… As long as they’re Stainless steel, no galvanized steel here please…
When mook asked if he should pot them in HD foam, I should have asked what inserts he’s using… Doh!!
Mook…If you pot them into a small strip of HD foam you’ll be fine, always glass over any foot strap insert though…
The ones in the picture Surfding kindly supplied are easier, quicker and better suited to surfboards…
I fill the little open (hollow) squares with plugs of 1/2" x 1/2" scrap core-cell to avoid using too much potting resin,having it migrate to the square openings… I spent an hour cutting up 1/2" Core-Cell “croutons” and then forcing the core-cell plugs into the holes of a bag full of inserts…I tend to over do thing though…
I have a friend that uses snowboard inserts similar to the t-nuts shown by Mook… They don’t move if installed right… I just got tired of trying to keep them in a perfectly straight line… A cosmetic issue only…
Why waste time spending hours on an insert you can buy for less than a coffee at Starbucks?
I can’t believe how many hours people spend to save pennies?
I’ll have a go with the plastic ones. Will do some shopping today and see if those windsurfing shops sell. Always a challenge to inquire really simple stuff here for board building in flatland Holland.
Nice boards by the way Dave!
Cheers!
Hey Surfding… I totally agree, that’s why I switched to the ones shown in your photos…
I still spend “off-time” tweaking them, as I see that 1/2" gaping hole in the side of the inserts as a flaw in there design, and a “resin trap” … There’s no need for such large open areas in these inserts, it just adds resin weight…
Although I totally agree with your point about wasting time on inserts…I’ve seen the pictures of your car, as well as your CNC surfboard milling machine…
To some of us, those pennies matter a lot… And we make do with what we’ve got…
Kiterider I don’t mean to be harsh however I have had a good fortune by managing my time properly.
To me the management of ones time will lead him to succeed.
If you take the time to build something only use the best materials.
Kind regards,
Surfding
No problem here Surfding.
Time management makes total sense…
I use only the best materials, although I’m finding that the “run of the mill” materials work better in some applications…
.Bamboo for example… I can buy a 4’x8’ sheet of 1 /42" veneer for far, far less than the same amount of Carbon-Kevlar…The weight of the bamboo is greater for sure…, but the price “off-set” wins the day… The structural similarities speak for themselves…
I used to do nothing but Carbon, Carbon- Kevlar, 4oz. S-glass boards… You can spend your money more wisely than using “the best” on every build…
The cheap t-nut inserts are a good example…Although you have to put in extra time and effort to get them right…
Good point.
I will share a few high tech builds underway in a few weeks.
Same for me I found some inexpensive materials that are great for building boards.
Bamboo is a good example in your case.
Bamboo… I can’t really say much more !! Dye it really nice colors, and your golden…
check here for oz made inserts too http://www.ausfinco.com/store/acc.html
Great post Dave.
Why spend hours making them when you can buy them in OZ.
those fin plugs are still overpriced for a few bits of plastic tho. a set of fins plugs should cost no more then 10 $ . and still probably twice as much as what the chinese factories pay for them
And they’re clearly strong! : - Shortboards for real surfers
Beautiful wood solution to towboard design dave.
Thanks for the praise guys, we just route the inserts into the board and set them with epoxy, prior to sanding the board, then a finish coat…
also i just helped Steve from Australian fin co fix his website link so the emails will get thru to him…