DIY - How to make your own surfboard fins at home!

Materials needed:
Fiberglass (6oz)
Laminating resin
MEKP catalyst
Dowel pin (I called it a cotter pin)
Longboard fin screw
Sandpaper (60 grit and 120 grit)

Tools needed:
Drill and 3/16ths drill bit
Saw

Tools to make your life easier:
Power sander
Band Saw
Drill press
Clamps
A good work bench!

Hey Los Angeles/Orange County:
Upload a photo in the Rogue Wave app to get free quotes for ding repair, pay through your phone, and see a list of partner shops where you can conveniently drop off and pick up your surfboard!

List of tools and supplies I use can be found here:

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@rogue_wave_LA

[chrism]

nice man i like the talk over!, did't realize that its about 40 lays of cloth, i might give it a go, iv got a old 60s board i want to put a fin box in, so might do that and make a fin to.

[Jim-fexz]

We used to plan for .010" thickness per ply for layups. It sounds like that may be close to what you're finding too. On the Honda I'm having electrical problems with my 81 750 too! Nice looking fin!

[allsurf]

Nice! On my list of things to make. 🤙🏼

[Andy_XT]

Nice! I've always wanted to try to make one. You made it look easy. Thanks!

[samnolan]

Awesome mate loved the video thanks for sharing it

[tg]

We made fins from marine ply, and jammed them in with news paper in the 1960's. Just as good as a glass fin if done right, even today.

[rosstruss]

Yeah nice work. So dusty grinding out fins, but not too many options. Top job.

[malmannz]

Great vid...interesting to watch...yes its a tricky process to get foil right..
made a few in my shed..for logs, use a 5 or 6mm ply core of thin veneers ( got from packing case) shape, and then one layer of carbon fibre 8oz ? and one layer 6 oz..epoxy resin...made five, all a little stiff, maybe will use llighter carbon next time..now about 2 years old....work out very cheap to make., at about $15 new zealand dollars each..plus shed time...

[HN-Shapes]

Amazing man thanks for sharing ! More tutorial videos please 😋

[nickhlawka]

If you want to avoid 50 layers of glass you can use a core like wood or foam. Wood looks really nice. You can also sand down some foam and cover it with carbon.

[Andy_XT]

Ok. Help needed! I made one. It turned out pretty decent, but then I couldn't seem to find the right geometry for the base. How do you know where to place the pin? Does the fin have to rest on the base of the box, or is it just the pin and the plate/screw that lock the fin? (I know i sound silly, but I am rather confused at the moment: I might have copied from different fins!). Thanks!

[adamburrows]

what type of paper did you use under the layers of glass when you laminated everything?

[airbornen]

Great video! Looking to get into making my own fins. How many yards of
Cloth does one plate use up?

[MrRickyrecon]

This was an epic video! Is there any flex with this fin or the others?

[OunieFloralDesign]

Nice work !!
Love the color.
How many layers do you glass in 1 time ?
Cheers

[kichomano]

Heeeelp from mexicoooo what could i use instead the dowel pin?

[AZZ]

Awesome video!! If I can ask how much was the material cost for the project of you started without any of the materials?

[emmyrank]

Any idea how transparent the fin would be if you left the resin clear? I’m guessing it would be mostly opaque

[mmumuuu]

Nice job ! Did you use waxed styrene with your resin? Thanks

[Bido]

What do you lay the cloth on while laying it up? Wax paper?