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Inspired by Tux's recent efforts and after wanting to build a fin for a while now - I have been forced into action after losing my treasured JD fin a few weeks back. Finally found a bit of spare time today when the wind turned onshore 
I also have a new blue tint that I wanted to have a play with before using it on my new 10ft blank. I had been fortunate the other day when I called into the local factory to get some more lam and picked up a bunch of offcuts - which reduces the cost of the fin significantly. I borrowed a mates 9" hatchet fin to get the ball rolling.
First step was to take a template in paper and then transfer this to cardboard.
With all the offcuts I had I made a rough cardboard outline so I could cut the glass to size. My research had told me that I needed 44 layers of 6 oz to get the required thickness. After cutting them out it makes a hell of a lot of mess!!
Next up it was to get everything ready. I picked up an old piece of kitchen cupboard from a mate and greased it out - so the glass doesn't stick. Then it was time to lay the first bit of lam. Now there was no turning back.
When bad light stopped play this evening I have 15 left to do. Its a very long process using offcuts like this - and uses a lot more resin. But its been interesting. I am really not sure if this is going to work or be an epic fail. Time will tell 
Lots of lessons learnt so far. It would be a hell of a lot easier to do big squares - especially when working the edges and getting small offcuts into the process. Messy. Anyway this is a trial run before I do a bigger flat panel at a later date. Not sure when I will get to the rest of it but will keep you posted.
Thanks SB - not sure I will be doing it this way again though
Pup - lets not jump the gun here - lets wait for the final product !
LL - come on Mr Fin - actually under Abbott's new regime you have been probably promoted to Sir Fin these days How do you like to lay them up ?
I've tried to make fins before , never again, easier to just buy them these days.
Good luck Ted, I never went the layup route. You used to be able to buy a blank from a place up here, they were just an oversized fin shape that you could sand to whatever you wanted.
Or ask your local shaper/ fin maker for a piece of their next layup. They are likely to tell you to beat it but worth asking.
How do you like to lay them up ?
Nice work bro...I went the plywood option cause I am a lazy fecker and I had heaps lying around from my half built skate ramp...
I am trying a couple of those as well - what size ply did you use? 9mm or 12mm? I guess if its for your short board you went for the thin stuff.
I finished the last few layers today and its worked - it even came off the surface relatively easily. I am amazed Crap photos but blame the phone. I think its a bit wider than I initially intended but thems the breaks You can see one side is nice and flat from the bench whilst the top is not. Nothing a good sand won't fix. Anyway I am pretty happy with how its turned out so far. Will give the foiling a crack on the weekend after I cut her out.
One day Pup if I can master this I will make ya one - but right now I am a long way from evening finishing my first one
Hats off to ya rhino... You really do give stuff a crack.
Geez I feel a little sad about me now
I just love building threads, whether its a fin, a board or a bloody repair I dont care I just love it. I would love to do a board someday, I can imagine I would butcher it properly!
nope - unfortunately I spent some of my weekend fixing a couple of a dings for a mate who was staying and the rest of time surfing so the fin will have to wait a few more days. It was not shed time when the local was looking like this
Been a bit slow on updating this thread as I have been busy helping a mate finish his hollow wooden board build.
Finally shaped the beast this weekend - jeepers it made a mess !! Anyway the fin was beautiful and I was really happy with it. I took a long time for a change - making sure that I got the foiling even on both sides. It was looking smic - when I held it up to the light it had a nice even light strip the whole way round. I then did a light hot coat and shinned her to perfection. Was stoked. Then I bloody dropped it on the ground and broke the tip !!! I almost cried. So its being repaired before it has even been used. Fins do not like falling tip first on to concrete from 4 foot. The irony was that I was cleaning up at the time - can not believe it The new improved version will post some pics when its complete. Probably be a few more days before I get to finish it. These pics are action ones - way before it was finished.
Full respect to fin makers - a lot of work goes into getting them just right. Can not wait to start the next batch - yep no more offcuts - going to go hard and use sheets of glass next time. Will cost more in materials but a lot less in my time !!! I have also been working on a few wooden dolphins - will not bother you with these yet as they need a bit more work.
Awesome. I made a few boards with my bro when younger. Wish I still had the time. As it was great fun. took a photo of my bro pulling into big strickland bay on our home made and it still sits proudly in the pool room. Making a fin is even better...so cool Ted.
Great post mate, can feel your pain when the incident happened, it's those dumb little things we do that make us so angry with ourselves, I'm a master at it. 
Smicko fin..bad luck about the drop..bugger....bet the neigbours heard the blasphamy aplenty.
Thanks fellas - appreciate the kind words. Hoping to work form home tom so I might get a chance to sneak out to the garage and finish her off
