best glue to attach rails to C4's?

[demasoni]

Anyone have experience attaching new rubber rails to existing carbon fins?

I'm putting new rails on my C4 Flap 25's and I'd like to ask you guys for advice on the best adhesive. Thanks!

 

[Bill]

Hi Josh
I used Goop. It lasted longer than the rails. It comes in four flavors but I don't think that there's much difference, if any.

 

[demasoni]

Thanks Bill, I bought a tube of GOOP yesterday and I'll try it out.

 

[azapa]

i can totaly recommend any good super-glue brand, i think its called "crazy glue" in the US. Just a few drops every inch or so. Don't use too much or try a continuous seem.
I glued my C4 carbons into Spetton pockets about 16 months ago and have done a lot of dives in them (like, 80 to 100 dive days??) and they are perfect. Be careful to degrease the foot pockets well and the fins too. The rubber foot pockets will probably have mold release on them. Use alcohol or strong thinners.


Incidentally my C4's are 25's too, I love them, they are so soft and kind!

 

[demasoni]

i can totaly recommend any good super-glue brand, i think its called "crazy glue" in the US. Just a few drops every inch or so. Don't use too much or try a continuous seem.
I glued my C4 carbons into Spetton pockets about 16 months ago and have done a lot of dives in them (like, 80 to 100 dive days??) and they are perfect. Be careful to degrease the foot pockets well and the fins too. The rubber foot pockets will probably have mold release on them. Use alcohol or strong thinners.


Incidentally my C4's are 25's too, I love them, they are so soft and kind!

Are you talking about gluing rails onto blades or gluing blades into pockets?

I'm going to replace the rubber rails.

I love the C4 25's too! If I was taller I probably go for the 80's.

 

[azapa]

hello, i am talking about foot pockets to the fins. But rubber to carbon should be exactly the same. Rough up a little with very fine (400 or so grit) paper before starting and degrease well.

80's are too ungainly for me, especially between the rocks spearing.

 

[octopus]

I have used standard superglue and cannot complain. Actually, I used it to glue both rails to the blades and then later footpocket to the rail/blades (had a bit of work to do as I mated Beuchat footpockets with C4 flaps).

Saying that, I am struggling to find decent glue for WW mono footpockets.
Any advice on that one would be appreciated. Cheers.

 

[octopus]

I am sorry for the late reply.

 

[octopus]

Initially, I tried to widen the groove in the footpocket. That proved disaterous idea. I managed to ruin perfectly good footpocket.
It is much easier to thin the rails down a bit. However, it is precision work. I used the tool on the photo for the job. You have to adjust revs and roughnes of the grinder. It is trial and error.

I also tried to go with some super-duper marine, flexible glue, sikaflex or something like that. It did not quite work to my expectations. So I reverted to superglue and it has been holding rather fine for a year now.

So all in all, it has been difficult job, but I am very happy with the fins.

 

[azapa]

Hey Octopus, thanks for the follow up, good info. I have a doubt here: did you have to thin down the fins at the mating point because of the rubber U section that is glued to the blades that is at that point? Or are you trying to say that the carbon itself was too thick (which I can't imagine).

FYI I super-glues mine a good time ago and have thrashed them since - all perfect to date.

 

[octopus]

I think you are right (if I understood you properly).
I thinned down the Π profile rubber that mates with the footpocket rail.
I did leave original shape of Π profile, with about 1mm sticking out on each side - so it can go in the footpocket groove.

Carbon is not thick, but I would not recommend sticking carbon directly to the footpocket.

 

[azapa]

I think you are right (if I understood you properly).
I thinned down the Π profile rubber that mates with the footpocket rail.
I did leave original shape of Π profile, with about 1mm sticking out on each side - so it can go in the footpocket groove.

Carbon is not thick, but I would not recommend sticking carbon directly to the footpocket.

Thanks. What if you had cut off one side of the U leaving it more like an L? Would it have fit in then? What width aprox has the beuchat groove?

Sorry 'bout all the questions but thinking of my next pair of blades (not C4) and fitting them with Beuchat pockets.

 

[octopus]

I am not sure about L profile. It could perhaps work, but I personally would not go for such idea. I did at one point remove Π rubber altogether and got the carbon directly to footpocket rubber. But the blade was not sitting happily in there - easy to pull it out by hand, even after superglue got hold of it.
If I remember correctly (I am not at home now) Π rubber is 6mm (bit that goes into the footpocket groove). I thinned it down to 4mm.
Π rubber at blade is 4mm and I got it down to 2.5-3mm.

 

[apneaboy]

@ Octopus: I've got some glue straight from Bogdan for the WW fins buddy. Just remind me i'll give you some. There is two sorts one for rubber to rubber and one for rubber to fin from what I can gather.

BTW off topic. Chris and Kim are going to Sheffield Friday night if you fancy it.

 

[octopus]

Thanks mate!
I need one for rubber to rubber. Footpocket rubber on the back of my training mono is holding on a thin bit at the moment. I tried almost every glue from B&Q - no success.
I should be back in couple of months...hopefully.