Canman, you speak of plain pvc or extruded pvc. Last one, in 500, 600kg/m3 is what is sometimes use for surfboard stringers or templates, need resin and fiber on for fins but can work. Lighter one around 100kg/m3, herex dyvinicel etc, can work too, need more fiber.
Plain pvc have lower stiffness/weight ratio, fins made with it will be may be too flexible and fragile, you can find panels off pvc reinforced with fiber (small particules) that can be better for this use.
Sounds like rather than use a plain sheet of PVC and save a bit of cash, it might be better to just buy some G10. Especially since it sounds like I’d end up paying for both at the end of the day anyways. I didn’t use enough fiberglass cloth on my wood fins and one snapped right on the first bottom turn. Makes you realize how much force is applied to the fins, even when the surf is small and you’re not really turning hard at all.
I’ve seen a few suppliers of G10 online…is all G10 created equal or are there certain varieties to avoid? (Yes, I know about FR4, no need to comment on G10 FR4)
iirc, G.Griffin prefers the FR4.
He mentioned it YEARS ago.
…hello Lemat; wood, specially plywood, does not work if you make those fcs tabs; always, as Canman says broke the tabs. PU box fins broke there too.
Hi reverb. Personaly i don’t make fins. If i have to do with wood i would go with a light plain wood easy to work with and use many layers of glass around. I carbone époxy cp hand made fins for a Guy, tabs were in wood, i use UD fiber with époxy in vac bag and finish tab shape with époxy glass, seems he still use it but don’t know if it’s good.
…hello Lemat; if you use a thinner slab of wood then many layers of glass to reach the fcs tab thickness, would be a problem there too.
For glass ons no problem.
You think it will break a tab ? Probably, and it’s may be make for no? Plugs need to be strongly attached to work, but it’s an other problem… I see some of my guys that break fins but plugs don’t move so new fin and go, not a bad thing. With futur plug fin stay but plug move not so good. I am not in hand made fins for the moment. I still work to improve my shape and build process, for 20 Years, i am not quick lol.