Okay, I can somewhat understand hyper white pigment around fin boxes on new uncolored boards, but why use it on colored boards?
Even on clear boards, when the foam yellows, you then have this black plug surrounded by hyper white pigment, then yellowed foam. FUgly fugly. If no pigment is used, the plug/box simply appears marginally larger.
I personally think a bright white border around a plug or box just attracts attention to one of the ugliest aspects of a surfboard.
I was also under the impression that the pigment weakens the resin itself, and the bond to the laminate. Is this true?
I never used it on my personal boards, always requested it not be used when I was travelling and had to have someone else build it, and never will.
Why is the use of this hideous substance so widespread?
Because the deep haze of the clear resin looks like shit…
for bonding issues we fill about 95% with unpigmented resin and then go back and add pigmented to fill the rest… I also color match most of my fills on plugs if the board is colored.
Well, I disagree with you about the haze of clear resin, but thanks for the reply.
I used to think translucent FCS rings on the deck were kinda cool looking, and nothing like an obvious ring on the deck to show they were installed properly.
I applaud you trying to match the pigment on colored boards.
All the boards ( not many)I’ve made in the last decade have been HWS. I think epoxy mixed with wood flour looks like diarrhea and have always just mixed in milled fiberglass.
I wonder if there were a poll of surfers, who have no idea about the manufacturing process, whether they would choose standard white pigmented resin around plugs or not if given a choice. I also wonder how many have never even noticed.
Anybody else comment on whether that the pigment weakens the resin itself and/ or the bond to the hull and/or deck glass and if so, to what degree?
the white resin matches the predominatly clear board, white box, or leash cup color. extra steps slow down the process, but if time is of no concern, do whatever you see fit. lots of ways to skin a cat. my epoxy lams have no pigment in any installs.
For poly; ground fiber and white gel coat or ground fiber and pigmented resin. I've done red and black pigments on FCS plugs. Some factories just use ground fiber and no pigment on their boxes. Be careful sanding pigment filler on a clear board. White blends and hides screw ups on poor installs and sloppy drilling. Factories use white to make life easier. You want a custom color on fin plugs order a custom board, pay for it and you'll get it. Otherwise they'll be white.
