Surfing Waves

Hey everybody!
I am from germany and i really need Help with a decision, because back here is nobody Who can really help me...
At First i need to say, that i'm making my own single fins and now I need to put in the screw for montaging the fin. But i Actually dont know which size i should buy and If there is even a difference.
I wanna know If Every screw fits into the FCS singlefin Box and which SIZE the fcs singlefin SCREW Has. I really need Help, because i dont want to waste my money for buying many different screws without knowing which one is Actually the right one!!!

I am happy with Every answer that helps
Have good one

Max

You know I never ever measured my screws. Unglaublich as it might seem,

Einfachlich ein antwort ist. The surf shop on the forum probably has some as they come as spare parts so they would sell them.
the screw system for most single fin long boxes have screw and plate system in stainless steel .
None of the sites mention sizes but I have found the screws fit through the hole in the fin base and the plates fit the groove in the box. The newer screws. Have an Allen key head which is the same size as the standard FCS and Futures fins Allen key, manufacturers who make fins for thes systems use the same screws.
If you have aboard now with a single fin, one size fits all.

I've encountered fins that were loose side to side in the box, but those were mainly boards from Australia. The boxes in the U.S. and Japan have the same width. I think the depth to the area the fin plates sit is the same.

Here is the fin screw I use. You can adjust it without tools. ( except with thick gloves )


this is on my favorite 2 1/2 inch fin


the one on the bottom has the bolt welding to the plate, you twist the knurled plastic nut to lock it down
the one on the top is okay, but sometimes the bolt gets loose and falls out of the plate if the rubber grommet cracks


the plate spin a 1/4 turn to lock in.

Haven't seen the quarter turn screw here in Australia, interesting but no dimensions.
BTW Roy Stewart has had some problems where the fin boxes have been ground down to match bottom curves so matching dimension between box and fin base has been challenging.
Look for a write up in Uncle Jaffa's Fin Primer.

Thank u so much everybody! This forum really helps
But just to make sure... Do u think that The screws and plates in the picture (klick on the URL) Would fit and work well? And do u know If there is an online Shop which sells them cheaper?

Thx

Max

http://www.amazon.com/DORSAL-Surfboard-Stainless-Steel-Longboard/dp/B0099TWO3Y

The screws and platesfor longboard fin boxes are pretty much standard , the other thing you have to consider if you plan to make your own fins where the brass pin lug sits in the base that goes in the box also the depth and width of the fin box.
some fins have rear screw fixtures others forward
Most board makers have template for plugs and boxes, and this lessen error in fitting. Chinese popouts and no genuine fins often suffer poor proportions or positioning effecting performance.

Foiling fins is an arcane art.
Keep us posted as to your progress
Post a picture of your fins genuinely interested.

$2.50 for plate and screw. Kind of expensive. Should be around $1.50. Those in the photos look to have a bigger diameter than the FCS screws. Meaning you'll have to drill a bigger hole and thus a weaker tab

Why are you making your own fins ?

I am making my own fins, because it is a lot of fun, i learn pretty much how it works and i dont need to buy them anymore..

At First to Jaffa1949,...
I already thought about the brass Pin lug and i will probably just use an Aluminium stick of 4mm diameter. At First i am going to Drilling a hole, put it in with some glue and finish it with a bit of fiberglass around the hole.
I am also going to use the FCS finbox for my First fins, so it will not take me a lot of work to figure out the measurements.
And at the moment i am still researching and U guys really help me

And Myb there is somebody out there Who can tell me where i can get epoxy resin catalysator and If i should get fiberglass tape or cloth...

Max

And now to waikikikicl...

It's good that u told me, that These are probably too Big.. And i Actually dont know where i can get them cheaper than on Amazon, but Myb i am still going to Find better ones..

Thx for your help

Max

"use an Aluminium stick of 4mm diameter. At First i am going to Drilling a hole, put it in with some glue and finish it with a bit of fiberglass around the hole."

That's a lot of work for nothing. ( plus I am not sure how you will have any fiberglass around the hole ? ) It will flex, crack and fall out. Just use a slotted pin. It give a bit when you tap it in. Then it'll expand and resist falling out. Simple.



About the screw/plate, try finding the brass/plastic ones. We call them "Box Savers", because they break on impact saving the box from pulling up.

An old way of making fibreglass fins was to lay sheet upon sheet of glass cloth,o same as the glass used for boards, often with different coloured resin for layers. When the sheet was at a suitable thickness and dry the fin template was laid on the sheet, marker pen marking the shapes for minimum waste and cuts..
The fin is then shaped to correct template shape and the foiled. The layers were a good guide to correctness of foil.
The process is messy, resin drips, dusty and probably injurious to health unless you use dust protection.
Fibreglass dust can be toxic and possibly carcinogenic microfibre hazardous.

Where to get Resin, glass, catalyst or products in Germany , it is certainly not the epicentre of the surf world.
I don' t know

You will certainly have an interesting time? Fun, as the surf factory step and fetch it apprentice I got to do laminating and jigsaw rough cuts, pre fin systems , sehr schrecklick!
it is no coincidence that FCS fins are owned by a huge Australian Investment bank as not many people are hand making fins anymore because of the labour, and the market is huge.
there are some master hand foilers out there, and there is a beginning to 3D printing of fins.
Keep,posting, I'm very interested!

To waikikikicl..
The Tipp with the finscrews really helps , but i dont understand how i can usr the slotted stick, without making the wood wet!(through the slot comes water)
So i will probably use the Aluminium stick and glass around with really thin stripes of fiberglass. (If i even need to)

Max

Okay now to Jaffa1949!

I am making my Fins out of wood and i am going to glass each side with 6oz fiberglass!
I will not use pure fiberglass, because it Would Cost too much and it's too difficult.
I am also going to buy a dust protection, i already calculated everything..

I buy the epoxy resin, hardener. And fiberglass on a really good website in germany! It Took me a lot of Research but in the end i succeeded.

And think positiv If u really want something, then u get it!

Max

So you're making a wood fin for you center box ? I haven't seen a center fin made out of wood. Wood thin veneers in the middle of fiberglass, yes. Most wood fins you see are Keel fins on twin fin Fishes.

What's the design shape your creating Max? Can you show us a PIC or is it top secret!!? You could be the next Roy Stewart (think that's his name)

if u tell me how i can upload pictures, i will show u some Models which i wanna make

Max

Here are links to wooden surfboard fins
http://shop.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au ... /fins.html
http://thewoodbuddha.blogspot.com.au/20 ... -fins.html

and a video of Roy Stewart laminating a Pawlownia fin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_IZ1Xf6a_o

Here is a pretty comprehensive collection of fins from Surf Research, form very basic to hi tech
http://www.surfresearch.com.au/f.html

Its just in the 'full editor' version of your usually reply section, a box that says upload attachment click on it and browse for your file, confirm then submit.. I think!

Wow!! That 65 tunnel fin!!

I Found some of the fins in the Internet and they looked same what i thought about

I want to make Standard fins, but also some of the old school fins Like from the 70's and stuff...

I already thought about making glass on fins, but in the end i couldnt use them so I will make them for the finboxes!!

And Jaffa1949... The links are really cool and i have no idea where you Find These amazing Websites, because when i try i Actually never get so far.

Alright, i hope that u can see the pictures..

Max