How to make your own fins

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:27 am

I had that in mind obviously when getting the domain but I just decided it was for fun and not profit so I never did anything with it but link stuff. Maybe someday if my boards become worthy enough. but seriously there is not enough money to be made and there are a lot of hassles asociated with it not to mention all the nasty chemicals. I think it would be enough of an honor just to have a few friends riding one of my boards someday.

K. Cliff · Post by **K. Cliff** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:15 pm

L.M.G. wrote:
Swanky! I've got all that stuff laying around and to think I didnt try it yet. What kind of excuse for an engineer am I? (dont answer that)

_________________
http://picasaweb.google.com/jason.augustino
Question: Are you neutered yet?
I've got a great idea for a tool to make self neutering more enjoyable- if interested just come by my office (dusty old shop) and I'll give you a free demonstration on the proto-type, Lopitoffofme. :partyman:
L.M.G.

I don't get it....

kitecrazy · Post by **kitecrazy** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:45 pm

...the masses have spoken...the neutered sign is going away.

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:09 am

I had that in mind obviously when getting the domain but I just decided it was for fun and not profit so I never did anything with it but link stuff. Maybe someday if my boards become worthy enough. but seriously there is not enough money to be made and there are a lot of hassles asociated with it not to mention all the nasty chemicals. I think it would be enough of an honor just to have a few friends riding one of my boards someday.

Dude, your production technique is tight, and the boards look good. Maybe I can bring my "distressed" LMG board to you for repair w/bottom sheet laminate (I already have) to be epoxied under vacuum. It's been over two years that I've been trying to get the originator to finish it, but no luck so far. :(

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:33 am

G10 is a high pressure fiberglass laminate that is then sanded or cnc machined to shape. It's stronger and stiffer than cast fins (like yuri's). It's pretty important when making windsurfing fins as those are long and can be fragile. Kite fins on the other hand are so short, that by the time you manage to snap off a g10 fin, you might be doing damage to your board too.

Yuri- a few questions....

1. have you tried making SUPER thin fins? Currently, your fins are about the same thickness as normal fins, but since you're putting carbon fiber in there, can't you make it much much thinner? Seems like the only issue would be getting the screws in, but say you used 4 small screws (instead of 2) it seems like you could get by with some really thin fins. should make the board faster...

2. what about ditching the CF? I'm not convinced it's really doing much for you as you've got a pretty solid amount of expoxy in there...of course, it looks cool though.

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:10 am

Adam, the carbon does actually help it from breaking quite a bit. In the heat the cured epoxy can actually deform as well(not sure the CF heklps with this, but something I noticed). And yes it looks cool and is very light compared to G10. I think, unless you are a moron with a screwdriver, you have no real benefits with G10 unless the fin was long like a windsurfers. As for width, it does all come down to the screws. And not only in diameter but the narrower the fin, the less you can drop it down into the body. this is actually another perk to the 2 sides of CF, when I insert the screw in to cast the threads, I have the security of knowing it wont poke past the wall! There is another reason it didnt work too well. Smaller screws have tighter thread pitches and the casting is not accurate enough to keep this from not stripping when putting that first screw in. I have tried sheet metal screws since they have more area in between threads but for some reason they dont hold as well, as in they seem to back out becasue of the steeper pitch.

My fins are normally really small. I like to do my 360's on the water and not have to come out. You cant do this with a fin bigger than 1.5" very easily. All my fins are 1.25" tall and not a lot of surface area. I like the speed and maneuverability. In my mind it just needs to hold the board from slipping when riding fast or landing a big jump. I have come to hate that feeling of riding on railroad tracks. but I do severley lose some upwind performance-who cares!

CdoG · Post by **CdoG** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:21 pm

thin is fast
1.60 for the BiTe to weather...
or in sets....1.25.1.35,1.45.1.55
...?

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:25 pm

Como?

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:39 am

yeah, i think i'm riding 1.5s . . . i don't think you lose much upwind by having small fins. fins=drag

i've thought about going to 1" for sliders and kickers and to really make those surface passes cake.

on the other hand, bigger fins help with tracking on blind.

Sonny · Post by **Sonny** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:46 am

I used system 3 resin to make fins but it could not hold the thread for the screws for very long. What resin are you using?

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How to make your own fins

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