Source for glass fin blanks?

I’m looking for a source for a couple of sheets of 1/4 glass suitable for fins. The only “grade” I know of that would work well is the g10/fr4 stuff that Griffin uses, but that’s CRAZY expensive. Looking online, I see electrical grade (gp03) and premium/regular grade “plain” fiberglass (frp).

What should I be looking for, and where?

THanks,

J

Why not just lay up your own? The cutting and foiling of the fins is the hard work. Making the sheets is easy.

Yeah, but its messy, a hassle, I don’t have poly (just epoxy) with which to build up a bunch of layers quickly… For a few bucks I’d spring for a nice sheet to just cut and foil.

You could easily get a high-solids marine resin (stronger and cheaper than ‘‘surfboard’’ polyester), pigment it, and DIY.

The only tool you probably don’t have is a roller, and you don’t even HAVE to have that. I’d bet there’s info re how-to

in the archives. You’ve done harder and messier things, I’ve seen your posts!

The commercial products other than G-10 are an unknown to me. They could have voids or other cosmetic issues we

can’t pretend to know about. They’re all going to be expensive because of the amount of fiber in them. Glass fins ain’t cheap.

Larry from Fiberglss Fin Co. might be able to sell you a sheet that’s made for surfboard fins, but I can’t speak for him.

I remember JIM Phillips saying he made a pair of calipers from a rejection pannel from a fin company in the mastershapers dvd…ask around

The link you’re looking for was already posted – surf4fins, maybe? It’s 1 square foot x (lots of choices of thickness) of G-10. I think they were 10-15 bucks?

I would have sworn I saved that link, but I can’t find it – I’ll keep looking. Consider pming surf4fins…

I need that link too

since Larry at Probox doesnt sell fin panels anymore.

Quote:

I need that link too

since Larry at Probox doesnt sell fin panels anymore.

That’s exactly why I posted this up. :slight_smile:

Gotta love the ease with which you can make a fin for probox, but premade panels would be even easier!

Have you checked for G10 here: http://www.mcmaster.com/ ? Do a search for the G10 and then add the thickness and dimensions. They are the most reasonable I have found to date.

Quote:

Have you checked for G10 here: http://www.mcmaster.com/ ? Do a search for the G10 and then add the thickness and dimensions. They are the most reasonable I have found to date.

Yes – I’m pretty sure that’s the link.

It looks like prices have gone up :>(

okay went to the mcmaster site…I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment by that site.

Can anyone point to an exact link for a g-10 fiberglass panel (not epoxy) but polyester,

preferabbly 1/4".

Aloha Schwuz:

What size fins are you looking to make as we have a few fin blanks in stock that already have the base milled down to the exact thickness needed for ProBox?

I’m not on island at the moment but I know we had CLEAR, RED, and BLUE, but I would have to check.

Ideally, if you could send me the template I could check to make sure that it would fit the panels before you bought them. We will sell them for $5 per panel.

I think they are 5" x 6" and 4" x 5" but I don’t remember so I would have to check when I get back on Monday night.

I have quite a few of them, but most of them are the smaller size. This size would work fine for a 4" side bite or small quad fin.

Let me know and I’ll see if I can help you out with these panels.

-Robin

…go like M D say

yep, life is not as easy…for the real boardbuilder

Hey Shwuz,

We can make you some 1/4" thk bamboo panels for glass-ons, no problem. We already sell 3/8" thick and “ProBox style” panels ~ you can get 6-10 fins from one panel.

Take it easy,

~Brian

www.greenlightsurfsupply.com

Otis- G-10 is made with epoxy not polyester.