So while I’m waiting for my volan glass to arrive so I can glass my board(s), I’ve been thinking I’d really like to be able to slap a scratchbuilt fin on my longboard. I’ve searched and searched the archives, and there’s plenty of info on “making fins”, but not for a complete beginner…For my first, I’d like to make just one large 10"-11" single fin. I’d like it to be clear, possibly with a small inlay. an anyone point me to a link or post that they know of, or if there isn’t one yet then elaborate in this post, on how exactly I would go about making my own single fin(s)? Do I need to make some kind of mold? Surely you don’t just soak 30 layers of glass with resin/catalyst and then cut it out and foil it…Do you? Think of it as passing on all your valuable knowledge to a newbie who is eager to learn. It’s much appreciated. Thanks.
Lay it up, cut it out, then get out the grinder and foil it. That’s how it’s been done for years. Sounds like fun eh? Cover up or prepare to itch. Have fun.
If you want something clear you can stack as many layers of fiberglass as you want to but the tab should be close to 32 layers of 6oz. You say clear so make a panel. It’s the only choice. You can put anything you want to in the lay up. I wet out the glass two layers at a time and roll the stack as I go to get all the air out of the lamination. You can use wood or high density foam or carbon as a part of the stack as well. You can make the foil thicker than the tab if you want to. On long boards over 9’5" that are going to be surfed single I prefer a fin that’s thicker than standard because they are more sensitive. Once you make a panel and cut the fin out of it all you have to do is foil it. It’s that simple. Just don’t expect it to be easy your first time out. Getting a true foil is like shaping a board, It’s delect bussiness that takes tools and a touch ~ once the material is gone that’s it. Wear lots of protection or be prepared to itch like crazy. Eye and lung protections is a mus. There’s a lot more to making a high quality fin than meets the eye. But the only way to find out is to do it.
One of my favorite sayings is,
“Experience starts when you begin.”
Good luck, Rich
Well then. alrighty! Looks like I have a fun new project to begin in the garage tonight! Can I just lay a piece of waxpaper down on the workbench and go for it? Should all the glass be wet with sanding resin or what? Any additives involved? Thanks for the tips…
Yes, Wax paper on a a perfectly smooth surface will work fine.
Mix you resin about 8 oz at a time the stuff isn’t going off in the pot while you’re trying to work the stack. Use sanding resin. let it cure until it’s good and hard and cut it out with a carbide blade on a jig saw. Happy dust removal.
Mahalo, Rich
Hmmm…No jigsaw yet. Maybe my Dremel with a good bit will work…?
this is one Q&A from record 440 in the archives (best of Swaylocks Vol.2):
HOW DO I MAKE FIBERGLASS FINS?
(Jim Phillips): You need a smooth flat surface to work on. If you can find a piece of used plate glass or a formica’d surface. You can used car wax to prep it with. apply one coat, buff with a rag then repeat. Have all of your cloth ready, don’t fire off the batch too fast, because laying up a fin sheet takes a while and the resin will go off on you in the bucket sooner than on the table. Wet out the table and put down one layer, work the air out and rewet. Next put down two layers, squeegee those out well, looking for air and repeat the process until done. When the sheet has set, mix up a waxed hot coat and seal the exposed surface. When the sheet is thoroughly cured, start a wedge of wood or plastic under one corner and slowly free the glass sheet from the lay up table. You will feel the hairs stand up on your arms while doing this as it creates a static charge as the two separate. Using a scratch awl or tempered sheet rock screw you can etch the outline of your fin template onto the sheet. When cutting them out it is best to leave the extra scrap on the fin base, this gives you some room to clamp to while foiling. After the fin has been foiled, cut off the remaining part on the base. You now have your set of fins, for longboard center fins the process is the same, just use 30 layers of cloth. The fins are easy to make. I used to save all my trimmings and sort them to size. It takes about 14-16 layers, it doesn’t matter what cloth you use. They can be cut out with a sabre-saw and foiled with any sander. The foiling is the itchy job though.
(Herb Spitzer): A couple layers at a time if this is new to you. Stick with white opaque it cleans up the best, and go to a hardware store and buy a good dust mask, nice fitting thin rubber gloves, and a paper paint suit with a hood. The gear I have described will help in the foiling phase(keep you from itching)+you can use it to lam with(keeps the resin off your skin/clothes).You need a respirator, and a pair of rubber boot wouldn’t hurt either. p.s. make sure you get all the air out of the lam that you can!
(Jim Phillips): What Herb left out is, DON’T do this in the garage, patio, mom’s living room or anywhere that PERMANENT reminders of the attempt will remain. You need a large piece of cardboard or tarpaper to work over. Resin has a way of finding the only uncovered piece of real estate. If you wear anything that is not already ruined, it will be.
(Tom): Cut the glass in big squares. If you can do it, make them about 24"x24". that way you can get more than 1 fin out of it for all the hassle!! As I believe Jim said, a couple layers at a time . This is so you can keep quality control as far as watching for air and stuff. Even though you’re laying up a couple layers at a time, you want to do ALL the layers with the same batch of resin, this will negate any chance of layers not bonding together properly. Multi color fin layups are done with a multiple lamination process with a hot coat between the colors but that’s a whole 'nother story! Anyway, yes you can make 1 fin at a time, just make the panel large enough so the entire fin will be the same thickness when you cut it out; sometimes the edges of the panel taper down because of squeegeing.
Hey
Rich would know much better than me.
You should layup on a piece of glass, or a really straight table, or all your work just gives you a twisted fin.
Line with wax paper and/or mold release.
I’ve always used 32-36 layers of 6oz, as the few fins I made were custom 11"+ sizing, and need the extra layers + four more for glassin it on.
I always used laminating resin, for all the cloth layups.
Hard roller (rolling pin from kitchen) works good, in addition to rubber squeegee.
For fin box fins, you have to thin out the inset area…not easy without milling machine. Should be milled before foiling.
At my local surf or windsurf shops, 10" longboard fins, for Bahne boxes, only go for about $49, a true value when you consider how much work and discomfort you are heading for.
Thanks for that Keith…
Lee- I’m sure it’s alot of “discomfort”, but hey, it would only add an extra “cool” factor if I could say I made EVERYTHING on the board…Plus, there’s nothing I like more than hanging out in the garage into the wee early morning hours working on a cool project. Heck, I’ll get it done even if I have to sand the whole thing with a nail file. I’m set on doing it now…I have plenty of very large fins to use as templates or “guides” for the foil. Keep the tips comin’ if you got anymore!
[=1][ 2]What Herb left out is, DON’T do this in the garage[/][/]
Lol…Nevermind. Maybe I’ll do this out on the deck.
If it’s a glass-on fin, you can lay down a piece of thin wood, follow with 10 sheets of glass + resin followed by another piece of wood. After you cut it out and foil it, you’ll have a nice looking wooden fin with a glass bead around the edge. The glass also serves as a visual center point when foiling. Glass an additional 4 sheets or so on both sides of the fin and it should be about ready to glass on your board. You can also lay up thin strips of contrasting woods to make panels that look pretty cool. I think the sandwich method described is easier than trying to build up a bead around a solid wood fin.
Two Cents…every 6 layers or so put in a different kinda glass to help later with foiling…? youll be able to discern 4 oz within 6 oz or verse visa… and maybe a couple three down the dead center… and by the way when that ol slab is done stacking a piece of waxed paper on top is a short cut saving sanding resin…then as to the go off still green state you can sneak up and trim excess with a sharp new single edge razor blade ,(this will be the last chance to ever do this with this sheet of laminated glass) ,that would otherwise turn to dust or dull a saw blade …just leave enough to shape to desired size…oh yea make two …one will be different and maybe two single edge blades as one gets dull before you are done cutting out… ambrose …kinda like cutting out christmas cookies…Gingerbread men?