Recent topics
Which table to choose
Kite setup tips/tricks
Which Front Pad
Futures Fins Alpha Fin Release
Kitesurf / Surfboard
Strapless Air Transition with heli-loop
Movie: White Caps and Summer Hacks
Lake Erie Wave Day
Global announcments
SHAPE - what makes a fast kite surf board
Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER
Make your own fins - #1 THE COPYCAT
Build - Full wood UG Kipuna style board
Video - Jon Modica Latest Footy
Video - Trip - SDC
Video - Reo and Modi in Maui
Video - invisable - SDC
Recent posts
Re: A Work In Progress: Video by Nate Apple
Re: Movie: White Caps and Summer Hacks
Re: Which Front Pad
Re: Lake Erie Wave Day
Re: Kite setup tips/tricks
Re: Which table to choose
Re: Strapless Air Transition with heli-loop
Re: Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Welcome to losethestraps.com - the original site dedicated to kitesurfers that are evolving the strapless scene. Please introduce yourself to the forum by posting here.

Moderator: Lonny

Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Postby tungsten » Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:54 am

So there you are, you want to make your own fins, but you think it's a bit of a joke to just copy some fin out there. You have your own design for your fins. How to start?

1. You have access to CAD software and a CNC mill. Then you are there already. You don't need advice. You probably only read this to chuckle about the amateurs.

2. You have a proper duplex grinder with big wheels and some stock of G10. Put on the protective suit, mask and respirator and get going. With a bit of practise you will be able to make brilliant fins.

3. You only have access to basic tools and some cans of beer, but you have a pretty good idea what you want to try in terms of fins. This is where we are now. :D



MODELING

A good material for that is ply wood, of the lighter, less dense sort. Not marine grade. Having plies, it's easier to work your model symmetrically and equal on left and right side. Less dense means you work faster and with less effort. Choose your profiles, calculate the fin, print them out and start shaping.

The outcome might be something like this (the red ones were semi-destroyed in the process of making the mold):


DSC08703.jpg
DSC08703.jpg (23.05 KiB) Viewed 945735 times



DSC06116.jpg
DSC06116.jpg (65.54 KiB) Viewed 945735 times




MAKING THE MOLD

From here, you go ahead to make a mold for your fins. Many ways to do it. This time I chose to cast a mold with epoxy resin.
-Treat the fin model with a release agent,
-put in a box with some plasticine on the bottom, and
-pour resin over it.

When the resin is set, clean away the plasticine, put the mold plus fin model the other way round in the box, clean it thoroughly, treat with release agent, and pour resin over it to make the other half.

When the other half has cured, take both halves and the model out of the box, and drill holes through both halves, near the corners. Thus you have a guide to put the mold together correctly.

That's your mold!

DSC06115.jpg
DSC06115.jpg (45.15 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



Next step is preparing the mold for casting your fin.
-drill a hole on top to insert a straw
-treat both halves of the mold with a release agent
-fill one side with pieces of fibre glass. make sure there are many layers on top where the fin sits in the fin box.
-put in the straw
-cover the straw with many layers of fibre glass


DSC06196.jpg
DSC06196.jpg (43.39 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



DSC06197.jpg
DSC06197.jpg (42.34 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



-put on the other half of the mold and screw them close
-tape the gap between the two molds, so that no resin can drip out when you fill it
-clamp mold parts together all around the rim


DSC06131.jpg
DSC06131.jpg (38.4 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



DSC06132.jpg
DSC06132.jpg (29.26 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



-inject resin through the straw with a syringe



What you get is something like this:

Before cleaning and finishing

DSC06121.jpg
DSC06121.jpg (48.1 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



Finished fin:


DSC06124.jpg
DSC06124.jpg (43.74 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



DSC06127.jpg
DSC06127.jpg (45.45 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



DSC06570.jpg
DSC06570.jpg (47.99 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



DSC06572.jpg
DSC06572.jpg (29.93 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



DSC06574.jpg
DSC06574.jpg (44.24 KiB) Viewed 945731 times



cheers, tungsten
tungsten
Shredder
 
Posts: 243
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:24 am
Location: Malaga, Tarifa, Spain
Share |

Re: Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Postby monimorklea » Tue May 17, 2022 10:36 am

How I wish I read this years ago so that I am the one who makes my DIY fins :) outdoor living spaces
monimorklea
Getting Wet
 
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:03 am
Share |

Re: Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Postby Annasmith » Sat Oct 08, 2022 12:44 pm

When the resin is set, clean away the plasticine, put the mold plus fin model the other way round in the box, clean it thoroughly, treat with release agent, and pour resin over it to make the other half. Home painting services in Philadelphia pennsylvania
Annasmith
Getting Wet
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:57 pm
Share |

Re: Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Postby monimorklea » Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:42 pm

There are foot strap inserts for those of us not confident strapless in the surf. 4oz glass all around to minimize possibility of warping and splitting. spartan concrete
monimorklea
Getting Wet
 
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:03 am
Share |

Re: Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Postby valsoansalosn » Tue Sep 19, 2023 11:05 am

This time, I went with an epoxy resin mold casting method. professional mould removal auckland
valsoansalosn
Getting Wet
 
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed May 11, 2022 10:34 am
Share |

Re: Make your own fins - #2 THE FIN SHAPER

Postby monimorklea » Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:38 am

The advice here are very helpful and informative. www.concretedrivewaypittsburgh.com/
monimorklea
Getting Wet
 
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:03 am
Share |


Return to Welcome

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron