Posts by protenek

  • Installing blades in footpockets

    I did not know what kind of glue was used for my moanas, but acetone did not disolved any at all. I guess acetone is more for paint, than hardened glue. I end up using the cutter, real horizontaly flat against the blade, just letting the sharp edge to cut or scratch the hardened glue. I dont know if this helps or ends up confusing you more Marco :)

  • Installing blades in footpockets

    Just an update, this might help somebody in the future with the same situation. I just removed Moana M stiffness blades from previous Pathos Fireblade footpockets. At the begining I used a cutter to take most of the rubber and to break away the blade from the footpocket. I even make the cut away view in the heel to see if the blade goes all the way in. To finish the blades, I tried to use a dremel for sanding thinner layers of rubber and glue, but was kind of difficult for me to sand off just that and feel uncomfortable going all the way into carbon fiber. I end up going back to the cutter and doing it really carefully with head wearing magnifying glasses. I took me like two hours but got real satisfied with the results. Used some acetone to clean at the end.


    This is some feedback from what I have found so far:
    1. Taking apart glued footpockets and carbon blades are not for everyone. I tought the rubber would feel more elastic to cutting, but it was more like a extra hard rubber eraser. Needs some skills and time. If not that handy or dont have time, find somebody to do this job for you.
    2. The rubber was really really glued to the blade so I am sure that with a line of continous dots of glue is more than enough to keep the tendon in place like Dan stated. Not sure wich way to go, but if I am planning to reuse or change the footpockets soon, I would go for line of dots. Since not, I might go to continous line of glue for easyness.
    3. Moana blades were slightly different at the end part that seats on the back of the footpocket. One blade was 3 mm wider, not allowing to fit all the way to the end. The other one was perfectly matching the back of the footpocket. I would not notice or check out that part if it wasnt for this thread. I will sand off the blade to get it fit correctly.
    4. Blade was like 2 mm narrow each side compare to footpocket at the tendons beginning area. Not much I can do about that since I can not make the blade wider. I think is not ideal, but my impression is that is not a problem at all.
    5. Seems to me that blades and footpockets angles might not be alligned exactly. I will double check this when my new footpockets arrived all the way where I live. My guess is that both blades might need a couple of mm to sand of at the back to align correctly the blade and footpocket angles.
    6. Nail acetone does not remove thin rubber neither glue as I expected. Since surely clear off hand grease and dust, I guess is just to prepare surface to received new glue.
    I will try to post some pictures later on.
    Carlos

  • Installing blades in footpockets

    Thanks Dan! I am all set to do the job.


    About the footpockets, I also have a couple of Omer Milleniums, do you think they fit the Moanas? Seems like they have a different angle.


    About fitting, I got a wide feet and the Omer Milleniums is the best footpocket fit I have found so far (beauchats, c4, mares, cressi, pathos). Pathos are fine for me too, just once they are heat molded.

  • Installing blades in footpockets

    Alright Dan, thanks for your help. I like the line of dots idea. Do you do the same in the toe - heel plate? how far away do you put the glue dots? Do you have any experience on moanas fitting into pathos? I was thinking to cut away the old pathos to check if it fits correctly on the back part of the footpocket.


    About Pathos, I read your post on Pathos footpockets and I was thinking on switching to Mares footpockets but Pathos customer service was truly out standing and they replace the older ones even when I wasnt the initial buyer (eventought I bought them basically new). Anyway, I believe in second chances, so I will give it a try.


    I know is a mix of personal opinion - preferences, type of blade - footpocket combination, and quality of the products, but in your opinion what are the best footpockets for a medium carbon blade?

  • Installing blades in footpockets

    Hi Dan, very interesting post. Great cut away view.


    I am looking forward to change some glued footpockets from a carbon fins blades. Do you have any info or recommendations on how to remove them? I have a Moana blades glued to a Pathos footpockets that I am going to replace for new ones.


    Also have some questions after viewing this Tryons tutorial video:


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yA6Z--YGdg


    Great tutorial, just catch my attention two things that are different from other tutorials
    3:29 Transition reinforcements.
    3:45 Gluing the on the top in front of the toes area and also at the bottom where the heel is. It says it interferes bending curve and will cause damage.


    Could you help me out? Would like to know your opinion or comments. Thanks in advance.


    Carlos

  • Spearo from Gulf of Mexico

    Hello you all. I was kind of intrigued for the request to make an introduction of myself, but it makes all the sense since forums without restrictions get derailed frecuently, so I would try to provide as much information without sending a biography. Firstable, I like spearfishing a lot, thats why I am here. My name is Carlos, age 45, blessed with a nice big family, happily married, two kids, live in Tampico, Tam, Mx in the Gulf of Mexico. I believe in respect to others and to yourself. Joining this forum to learn, know people with common interests and share some information. Love and willing to learn new stuff all the time, and always ready to go spearfishing. The rest are details; if you want to check some of them out, keep reading.


    My state Tamaulipas is the southern neighbor of Texas and we also have pretty good hunting and fishing all around; my state is sadly in the news for all the drug cartel war violence going on for the last years. Tampico is in the southern tip of the state and is a commercial port surrounded by lagoons. I had an awesome childhood with outdoors enthusiast parents and brothers. I was raised liking all different kind of stuff, from intelectual to all outdoors activities, land or water. I have had many outdoors interest during my life from fishing, bowhunting, duck and deer hunting, scuba, mountaneering, trekking, canyoning, whitewater kayaking and rafting, climbing, diving, mountain biking, archaeology, fossil and rock collecting, metal detecting, wildlife watching, caving, skydiving, photo and videography, among others. I still like them all, even if not practicing as much as I would like to. Surfing was my passion many years. My skin got in trouble with the sun, and no longer possible to be exposed too much, therefore I have to wear mask and big hats like a bird scarer when in the boat or outdoors. Freshwater and seashore spearfishing since I was a kid; but the last 6 or 7 years definetely got addicted to spearfishing. Reef, oil rigs and blue water are my main interest. Learning every year. Consider myself a better underwater hunter than apneist. Used to be trying to grow scales and gills without succes :D. Now focusing on learning and expanding my freediving skills. Like to design, make or modify my equipment. Love the hunt, selective self harvested fresh food and cooking. I believe in responsible fishing and living.