I just got done final sanding my summer 7’2" funboard. I mounted a 8.5" center fin and was going to mount FCS side fins, but change my mind, because i heard Red X are better, Plus, i will not support the Chinese and their cheap boards. My question is, How do they mount in the board. Red X sent me a card, but there wasn’t any info or pictures on how they are installed. I was just wondering, before i go out and buy a set of side fins for my funboard. If anyone could help, that would be super. I’ll be posting pictures of it later. Thanks guys and gals, Stephen Berube
I just got done final sanding my summer 7’2" funboard. I mounted a > 8.5" center fin and was going to mount FCS side fins, but change my > mind, because i heard Red X are better, Plus, i will not support the > Chinese and their cheap boards. My question is, How do they mount in the > board. Red X sent me a card, but there wasn’t any info or pictures on how > they are installed. I was just wondering, before i go out and buy a set of > side fins for my funboard. If anyone could help, that would be super. I’ll > be posting pictures of it later. Thanks guys and gals, Stephen Berube If you e-mail me your fax number, I will send you an installation guide. Herb has put together a set of jigs to cut the cavities. I have another one on my to do list. But, I’ve been buried in other projects. I know lame excuse. But, true!
If you e-mail me your fax number, I will send you an installation guide. > Herb has put together a set of jigs to cut the cavities. I have another > one on my to do list. But, I’ve been buried in other projects. I know lame > excuse. But, true! My e-mail address is .
My e-mail address is . Sorry, Don’t have a fax number. Does red x include a templet when you buy a set, or do they sell a install kit? I wish they gave some clue on their website on how you mount them. I’ll just buy a set and give them a try. I just hope all i need is a router. Thanks, Stephen Berube
Stephen, There is an install kit. However, it is production oriented. I have started working on a single user version. But, we are a custom injection molding facility with numerous other projects that have been demanding the bulk of my attention lately. E-mail me your mail to address and I will send you a copy of the installation guide via U.S. Mail. Or contact Larry through the site www.redxfins.com and he will work with you on getting started. Tom
Hi Tom, I’ve Indiana visiting my parents. The only waves I see are little ripples on the grasslands that seem to stretch forever. Oh, for some saltwater! Can you share what kind of material you’re using for the fins your making by the injection molding process? I purchased a couple of Starfins from Cheyne Horan this past winter that are made with this process I’m sure and are of polycarbonate, mighty tough stuff. It seems a very good choice-- the same stuff they make saftey glass lenses out of. Every hit with a hammer? Making a modified version that will allow for better turning facility is next on my list along with continuing with some new template and materials developement work when I return to Santa Cruz next week. – wish we were a little closer – I just may have to come down there sometime. From what you say you are very busy with some progessive projects, no surprize. My compliments on you product and approach to surfcraft development. Good Surfin’, Rich p.s. Steven, Good choice.
Hi Tom,>>> I’ve Indiana visiting my parents. The only waves I see are little ripples > on the grasslands that seem to stretch forever. Oh, for some saltwater! > Can you share what kind of material you’re using for the fins your making > by the injection molding process? I purchased a couple of Starfins from > Cheyne Horan this past winter that are made with this process I’m sure and > are of polycarbonate, mighty tough stuff. It seems a very good choice-- > the same stuff they make saftey glass lenses out of. Every hit with a > hammer? Making a modified version that will allow for better turning > facility is next on my list along with continuing with some new template > and materials developement work when I return to Santa Cruz next week. – > wish we were a little closer – I just may have to come down there > sometime. From what you say you are very busy with some progessive > projects, no surprize. My compliments on you product and approach to > surfcraft development.>>> Good Surfin’, Rich>>> p.s. Steven, Good choice. Rich, Polycarbonate is a very rigid material. Daum Tooling, inc. used to use it to make the clear O’Fish’l side bite fins prior to my joining the company. We no longer make O’Fish’ls. And we now use a specially formulated Nylon 6 with 50% fiberglass filler. In the our industry we refer to plastics that are very resistant to breaking as “tough”. We refer to stiff materials as “rigid”. Nylons and Polyurethanes are very tough. But, they are not as rigid as polycarbonate. That’s where the high quantity of fiberglass filler comes into play. It’s the fiberglass and the dimensional from that gives us are stiffness. I too had a few Star sytsem surfboards. As I recall they were very full foils. And when they break. They snap with some very sharp edges. Since we have been making Red, I have not gone back and mucked with blending new versions of fiberglass filled polycarbonate simply due to the expense of the base resin and the previous experience of my partner. Most of our customers compliment us on our rigidity and flex characteristics. If I preceived a demand for a stiffer, heavier, more expensive fin, I might start reinvestigating that area. But, they would not be the pretty clear or translucent colors that Star or O’Fish’l made.
Rich,>>> Polycarbonate is a very rigid material. Daum Tooling, inc. used to use it > to make the clear O’Fish’l side bite fins prior to my joining the company. > We no longer make O’Fish’ls. And we now use a specially formulated Nylon 6 > with 50% fiberglass filler.>>> In the our industry we refer to plastics that are very resistant to > breaking as “tough”. We refer to stiff materials as > “rigid”. Nylons and Polyurethanes are very tough. But, they are > not as rigid as polycarbonate. That’s where the high quantity of > fiberglass filler comes into play. It’s the fiberglass and the dimensional > from that gives us are stiffness.>>> I too had a few Star sytsem surfboards. As I recall they were very full > foils. And when they break. They snap with some very sharp edges. Since we > have been making Red, I have not gone back and mucked with blending new > versions of fiberglass filled polycarbonate simply due to the expense of > the base resin and the previous experience of my partner. Most of our > customers compliment us on our rigidity and flex characteristics. If I > preceived a demand for a stiffer, heavier, more expensive fin, I might > start reinvestigating that area. But, they would not be the pretty clear > or translucent colors that Star or O’Fish’l made. Hi Tom, Thanks for your take on terminology. The material options for injection molding are of course entirely different from that of hand lamination processes. You choice sounds an excellent one. Judging from what I’ve read from you in the past the foil development, materials mix and templates have undergone enormous scrutiny before and molding was undertaken. As to flexibility I tend to agree with you that a little tip flexibility is probably a good thing. Thanks for the information regarding Polycarbonate as the expensive option. Frankly I’m not surprised. Toughness has always denoted the ability to resist breakage but you’ve separated the qualities that different materials possess well. Thanks. The star fins I have, because of the their wide base template have what I would call a very shallow foil with a quite sharp leading edge. It feels very positive and fast in steep waves to me, working well on a wide tail with sharp rails. With some template and foil modifications I think the ideas has some real possibilities. The options available to the mould injection fin maker and the hand laminator are quite different. Nylon is wonderful durable material, but when you inadvertently take a chuck out of it on the rocks there no way to fix it is there? Pretty is a pretty does. Better Surfing, Rich
Hi Tom,>>> Thanks for your take on terminology. The material options for injection > molding are of course entirely different from that of hand lamination > processes. You choice sounds an excellent one. Judging from what I’ve read > from you in the past the foil development, materials mix and templates > have undergone enormous scrutiny before and molding was undertaken. As to > flexibility I tend to agree with you that a little tip flexibility is > probably a good thing. Thanks for the information regarding Polycarbonate > as the expensive option. Frankly I’m not surprised. Toughness has always > denoted the ability to resist breakage but you’ve separated the qualities > that different materials possess well. Thanks. The star fins I have, > because of the their wide base template have what I would call a very > shallow foil with a quite sharp leading edge. It feels very positive and > fast in steep waves to me, working well on a wide tail with sharp rails. > With some template and foil modifications I think the ideas has some real > possibilities. The options available to the mould injection fin maker and > the hand laminator are quite different. Nylon is wonderful durable > material, but when you inadvertently take a chuck out of it on the rocks > there no way to fix it is there? Pretty is a pretty does.>>> Better Surfing, Rich Rich, That’s one of the nice things about nylon’s toughness. Since it can go through more impact deflection without breaking, the fins will abrade or scuff rather than loose a chunk. If you ragged out the leading edge, just start with 120 grit wet & dry and work your way down to 1000 grit and it will be slightly smaller . But, it will also be good as new. If you hit it hard enough to chunk either the base will snap or the box will blow out. You have to hit these fins much harder to damage them. Polyester resin is just more brittle than Nylon.
Rich,>>> That’s one of the nice things about nylon’s toughness. Since it can go > through more impact deflection without breaking, the fins will abrade or > scuff rather than loose a chunk. If you ragged out the leading edge, just > start with 120 grit wet & dry and work your way down to 1000 grit and > it will be slightly smaller . But, it will also be good as new. If you hit > it hard enough to chunk either the base will snap or the box will blow > out. You have to hit these fins much harder to damage them. Polyester > resin is just more brittle than Nylon. Hi Tom, No doubt about the toughness of nylon, stuff is incredible and the polymers that are being made keep getting better, i.e. monofilament fishing line. I think Epoxy is a better choice for hand lamintion as far as toughness is concerned but it does allow one to do cosmetic work as easily so I use epoxy for the spine and shell of my fins and do the finish work with poly. It works out nicely and allow me to add a little art that would otherwise be quite difficult. How to meet you sometime mate. Better Surfing, Rich
Hi Tom,>>> No doubt about the toughness of nylon, stuff is incredible and the > polymers that are being made keep getting better, i.e. monofilament > fishing line. I think Epoxy is a better choice for hand lamintion as far > as toughness is concerned but it does allow one to do cosmetic work as > easily so I use epoxy for the spine and shell of my fins and do the finish > work with poly. It works out nicely and allow me to add a little art that > would otherwise be quite difficult. How to meet you sometime mate.>>> Better Surfing, Rich Anytime you’re in San Clemente, just let me know. Address and phone number are in user profiles or the local phone book. I’d be happy show you around and maybe even catch a wave or two. Keep the stoke!
Anytime you’re in San Clemente, just let me know. Address and phone number > are in user profiles or the local phone book. I’d be happy show you around > and maybe even catch a wave or two.>>> Keep the stoke! You’re very generous Tom, I’ll try and find a few days this summer and come for a visit as some pre arranged time that works for both of us. I’m sure such a trip would be very enlightening. By the way what type of boards are you surfing these days? Better Surfing, Rich
You’re very generous Tom, I’ll try and find a few days this summer and > come for a visit as some pre arranged time that works for both of us. I’m > sure such a trip would be very enlightening. By the way what type of > boards are you surfing these days?>>> Better Surfing, Rich This morning I rode my 6’6" GP Thruster (Single to double concave squash very little rocker in the belly)my brother shaped for me (Jerry is the primary shaper for Dewey Weber). I have another 6’6" GP thruster with Herb’s Super Chargers. I also have a 6’5" McCrystal Bonzer that seems to like steep boxy waves. I ride that at the reefs in La Jolla all last winter. I have (2) 6’8" fun guns. One 7’4 channel bottom Merrick gun that I’ve kept since 1983. My Rhino Chaser is 8’3". And, I have an order in with my brother for a 9’ Long Board to ride at San-O with my daughter. Jerry shaped everything that I did not name. And of course all but two have Red X.
This morning I rode my 6’6" GP Thruster (Single to double concave > squash very little rocker in the belly)my brother shaped for me (Jerry is > the primary shaper for Dewey Weber). I have another 6’6" GP thruster > with Herb’s Super Chargers. I also have a 6’5" McCrystal Bonzer that > seems to like steep boxy waves. I ride that at the reefs in La Jolla all > last winter. I have (2) 6’8" fun guns. One 7’4 channel bottom Merrick > gun that I’ve kept since 1983. My Rhino Chaser is 8’3". And, I have > an order in with my brother for a 9’ Long Board to ride at San-O with my > daughter. Jerry shaped everything that I did not name. And of course all > but two have Red X. Hi Tom, What great fortunate you have to have a brother like Jerry. Sounds like you and he grew up around allot of foam dust. Being of the older set my short board doesn’t even qualify as one and my quiver ranges from 7’0" to 10’0" and some of my boards are over 30 years old, but I still have a great time. Thanks for sharing the run down on your quiver. It’s great to be back in Californina. Jet Lagged, Rich