I have no idea of what to call the little 1/2" piece of steel tube that anchors a single fin into the box, but I’ve just finished making my first single fin and I need to track down the tubing. What diameter is it and where do you you get it?
1/8th inch, called a roll pin. Stainless steel. Brass rod, (welding) can substitute.
Thank you Bill for the info, and its nice to know it actually has a name 
What would be the best place to buy a length of the material (its kind of fun making single fins so I could imagine making a bunch more)
Try someplace that sells ‘‘fasteners.’’ HD has them, but don’t know if they have stainless steel.
ACE Hardware has stainless steel roll pins in the little slide-out bin/drawers. If they’re too long, you can always cut them to the proper 3/8".
5/8ths…perhaps? The fin is 3/8ths.
Yes, you’re right. 5/8ths, thanks Bill.
The old el cheapo #2 Phillips Screw Driver is the perfect size for me. Cheap hack saw blade from Harbor Freight Tools…
Low tech ,low cost ,yes it will rust…I’ve done two so far…
Ray
I somehow managed to lose the pin out of a fin I’d made and didn’t realise until I got to the beach. I found a length of rigid hard plastic coated cable the pretty much the exact thickness on the floor by my van so I cut a piece and stuck it in, not treally expecting it to hold; its still there a year later. Well bodged!
…Fatbaslardass and DanB
roll pins and main screw are badly designed in the 60 s
in this case
go better
go with a 3/4 stainless steel
do a smaller hole, then screw then cut the head
no more losen screws and better fin hold
Hey Dan,
We’ve got a bunch of center fin dowel pins in stock.
95 cents each
Here’s a link to order if you’re intersted.
http://stores.greenlightsurfsupply.com/Categories.bok?category=Bamboo+%26+Wood+Fins
Take it easy,
~Brian
Thanks for all the info! I’ll be heading to out today to see what I can track down. Yesterday I went to HD, but they didn’t have what I needed.
…man,
why complicate more?
go simple and better
do the way like in the previous comment
hardware store
stainless screw 3/4 x 3/16
after put the screw in the fin cut to 5/8 (you can do this before…)
or go with the Greenlight has to offer
I wasn’t sure what you were getting at the first time you posted the screw tip. My only concern with your tip is having the screws threads dig in and wear out the fin box. I take it you haven’t had a problem with this.
…no wear out the box
(smooth things after the cut)
fits perfectly well and holds the fin right
also you ll not lose the pin
remember it’s stainLESS steel. it will over time tarnish/ rust but not generally lose strength…better quality = mo better
Fin, you don’t need no stinking fin. real men just drag a foot.
Howzit DanB, Bahne sells them for about 20 cents a piece. I bought 50 of them a few years back when making some fins. If I could find them I'd just send a couple to you. I have to work today but will look for them.Aloha,Kokua
Thank you for the very generous offer! Unfortunately, I want to get the fin together before I make the trip up to the Bay Area later this week. I’m hoping to get a surf in with Benny1 and I HAVE to have my newest toys
OK then go with a stainless steel roll pin, hopefully you can find one at the hardware store. I had to order mine since the only ones I could find were brass which will tarnish.Aloha,Kokua