Aloha, Is there some reason you could not just use thick plexiglas to make custom fins? I am gonna need to make a couple of big keels for a fish I am making and am looking for the easiest way… Thanks, Don
Plexi doesn’t sand smooth, so will show scratches, making it transluscent.
Also, it doesn’t bond well to epoxy or polyester resins, so delam can occur quickly.
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Plexi doesn’t sand smooth, so will show scratches, making it transluscent.
Also, it doesn’t bond well to epoxy or polyester resins, so delam can occur quickly.
Also, it is not stiff enough in normal fin thicknesses.
People DRAMATICALLY underestimate the necessity of stiffness in a fin. Then you make one from plexiglass, ride it, and understand it is 5-6 times too soft a material. You need a glass (30-60% glass) impregnated plastic, polyester fiberglass, or epoxy fiberglass. Or, several layers of carbon fiber or fiberglass over a lightweight softer core like wood or foam or PVC. The number of layers you need depends on the thickness, for normal thruster fins you need 4-5 layers of 6 oz glass per side, with wider fins you can use less glass.
HTH.
Thanks Lee DD , But I don care so much about "looks " And don’t understand about the bonding issue . I am going to use them with an Edge Fin System Plug/Box it only has to have a tab on the bottom to go in the cassette they supply to go in the box/plug . Maybe I should try to contact Clyde of Edge Fins he is allways really helpfull too. But thanks Lee …Do you have any experience with these Edge systems ? Think I could use Plexi to make a Keel? I think it will need to be a pretty big keel fin , Mahalo to you , Don J.
give it a go , and let us know how it goes …
cheers !
ben
Short long chord keel like 4.75 x 9", should be fine.
Problem is, your tab is gonna break, as lexan polycarbonates just aren’t strong enough for any kind of mounting system.
Losing a fin is no big deal usually, unless you are surfing bigger surf in reef and rocky shorelines.
As Chip said, gotta go glass impregged resin plastics.
Howzit Hotcoat, Since Edge fins have a flat round bottom how are you going to attach the vertical fin to the flat bottom. That will be the weak spot for sure. Plus the bottom is a lot thicker than the fin is. Think you would be better off just getting Edge fins and if you want just refoil to your specs. When John and Clyde first started they only had 1 fin template so Clyde would reshape them for the customer if required. Now that's customer service. Aloha,Kokua
what is so difficult about lamminating glass and shaping it?is this not simple?
you should want it simpler?
cut it out of a five gallon plastic bucket or a teflon cutting board maybe?
or a mud flap off the shoulder of hwy 101…glue it on with zap glue…
simple,is science… yep phone Clyde he’s already spent 5000 sleepless nights pondering the varieties of solutions to your problem.
SCEHERAZADE TAKE A WALK…CLYDE HAS THE ANSWER…
…ambrose…
Howzit Brose, If it was fiberglass, no problema, but he wants to make the fins out of plexiglass.Aloha,Kokua
Aloha Kokula, Yup, Contacting Clyde or John would probabally be the easiest way . I had them send me the largest fin they had for another fish I had but it still seems a little too small . It’s not so much a “Keel” type shape but more along a wide based/large Thruster? type fin. I need some pretty big keels . I think…
The last fins thry were sending me came in a disc . It was screwed to the discs . they even had a left and right for the different fin cant. I was thinking If I could make a fin that had a tab like theirs I could use the same discs they had sent me…
Now then either John or Clyde told me once to sent a template and they would make anything I want … Maybe thats the best bet . The only thing that concerns me is a really big keel maybe breaking at the tab . But it can’t hurt to try . So what do you think ? The 4.75 X 9 inch fin that someone suggested is a pretty big one or could it go bigger . It’s for a 6’8" Thick Fish … I will try to post a pic of the fin setup now …
Thanks for any suggestions I can get . I don’t want to use glass ons and think the Edge System is a Great Idea… Thanks Again, Don J.
'twas me, but I’d recommend taller than 5" for such a big board.
Recommendation was max sizing for plexi/lexan. With glass, you can go as big as you want.
I’d recommend quad (FOUR) fins, all around 5.5" tall and standard 4.65 chords. That way, you can play with sizing, and use mainly four fins, but can try different sizes.
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what is so difficult about lamminating glass and shaping it?is this not simple?you should want it simpler?
Kids these days…
Howzit Hotcoat, John and Clyde will go the extra mile as far as custom shaping the fins to your specs, not many people will go this far,when it comes to customer satisfaction. A for those fins screwed to the disk, I’ve never seen any of them so it must be a new thing they are doing.Aloha,kokua