I'm doing some maintenance on a friend's sabfoil wing (950). Along with the tip repair, there are some scratches on the bottom. As well, looking at the clearcoat, it doesn't look smooth and fair (a little bit of orange peeling). Water beads on the surface. I'm tempted to wet sand it smooth .

Has anyone else done this and was the result noticeable? Or am I taking my race wing obsessions some place they don't need to go?

Wet sand in the direction of water flow, 900 or 1200, being doing it to formula fins, slalom fins and now foils forever...

If it has orange peel and beads water, it can definitely be noticeably improved.

Agreed

but if there are some scratches I'd say re- clear the whole thing then sand as that will also fill the scratches

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Mark _australia said..
Agreed

but if there are some scratches I'd say re- clear the whole thing then sand as that will also fill the scratches

Thanks, all. Yes, Mark, my foil ocd wouldn't allow me to do otherwise. Let's just say of it were my wing, I wouldn't be asking the question but some people prefer shiny over performance and was getting an idea of what shiny might be costing him.
Got owner's permission last night to go to town on it. Getting my wet/dry and spray bottle ready.

Any more results in meantime?

I have 3 glossy Balz Pro wings, some with some scratches along the chord frow skirting oysters . ouwch.
what would be the best way to repair?

I read Mark recommends a new clear coat. Would you sand it first before putting on the clear coat, then clear coat, then wet sand to a matte finish?

would I really notice the sanded foil for freeride foiling?

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Mark _australia said..
Agreed

but if there are some scratches I'd say re- clear the whole thing then sand as that will also fill the scratches

Mark, what clear coat product do you recommend?

I assume you mean rattle can for ease

it was Dulux Duramax flat clear but they recently changed. They assure me same formulation and it appears to be so. Good match for most things.
it's now just called Dulux Spray (how original)

clear flat.
white can.

Sanding day today. Admittedly, this wing is about three yrs old (so current production may be better) but, while it looks good, the factory finish is mediocre at best. The clearcoat hides a lot of roughness. When you start to sand, the weave underneath quickly appears in the difference between sanded and unsanded. It's not a very fair surface. The trailing edge is pretty thick as well.

I have a few friends who use this wing, 950, and it's overall size and design are good. Just surprised that, for something not at the budget end of the spectrum, it's not better. It will be soon, though.

If you think SAB is bad you should see how the Gong HA V1s are built ??

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Grantmac said..
If you think SAB is bad you should see how the Gong HA V1s are built ??

We should coin a new term: FSO (Foil Shaped Object)
The spotted areas are flat spots on the top curve of the foil where just part of the weave is sticking up enough to have the clearcoat sanded. This is after 320/400/1000. The flats can be felt while sanding across the curve. As this isnt a wing going to be used in a performance context and just a favor to a friend, called it good enough and quit for the day.

Reality is I'll probably fill these in. Hate doing anything less than right.

I've got a Balz 909 needing a little touch up on one tip and leading edge which I'm hoping I can accomplish with high build primer on the LE and some graphite thickened epoxy on the tip. We'll see.