checked the resources where there’s a great article on how to make wooden fins (thanks PaulJensen)…
…just wondering if it is possible to foil fins without a belt sander. I’ve never attempted but would love to have a go at making some glass on wooden fins (it says plywood is the easiest to foil?). I just don’t own a belt sander…
, please excuse my noviceness 
, thanks
, jeremy
heck you can use any machine tool you want to shape wood fins… as long as you can control it.
I set up a bunch of pine/redwood or cedar/redwood fins in sunburst patterns one time a year or two back. In retrospect, it was an excess of energy since I haven’t used them, but anyhoo, I C-clamped them to the back stair railing and foiled them with a disc sander. When they got close, I used a wood block with a narrow strip of belt sandpaper. Might have used the “tubular” surform also, and a block plane, I forget. A spokeshave would be useful if I had one.
Use anything, but control it… then switch to less aggressive tools when the time comes.
I put a work glove on my left hand, a radom orbital sander in my right hand, pick up the fin blank and start sanding. I’m sure there are much better ways. The glove is important if you are using this method. Believe me. Ply is nice because you can match the foils pretty easily. I have a hard time clamping the fin and foiling for some reason. It’s probably more efficient and safer. I like being able to turn the fin over and over until I get what I want. It’s fun. Mike
Having made a bunch of boomerangs (aircraft grade ply,) you can do it other ways, but if you’re going to do much of it, (and you are,) buy a cheap belt sander!
$99 new at the Depot
Just sayin’
I made a wonderful set of birchply keel fins for a fish a few years back with no power tools here is whatyou will need: bastard files, sureform, 60 80 100 grit sand paper with a sanding block and a coping saw. Oh the most important thing you will need is time, it took me about 2 two hours to finish each fin.
sounds good so far. i can’t believe i didn’t think of using a random orbital sander (probably 'cause i don’t have one either! haha).
riderofwaves, thanks. i was looking primarily for a method without power tools. wanted to make a single fin first so two hours isn’t that bad. sounds fun actually!
has anybody else made wooden fins without the use of power tools?
thanks
, jeremy
Yea, it wasn’t bad at all, I was sitting on the beach while i foiled them.
nice. i actually found some pretty cheap (and sometimes free i guess…?) belt sanders on craigslist and such. once i get over this recent cold, i’m going to try and make a copy of a true ames 7.5 single fin by hand for kicks.
, jeremy
will post how it goes…maybe… 
, peace