# Foil Drive 3 blades prop
**URL:** https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168
**Category:** Surf Foiling
**Created:** [September 23, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168 "2023-09-23T05:47:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Larsb](https://foil.zone/u/Larsb)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/21 "2024-09-25T14:27:48Z")
I can see that being especially important for foil drives 🙂
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### Author:  [@SoEFoil](https://foil.zone/u/SoEFoil)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/22 "2024-09-25T18:37:29Z")
> [@lishine](#):
>
> But probably because original stl had errors, the website showed errors.
To repair a STL file, a slicer might do it (eg Cura + “Mesh Tools” ext).
When it becomes tricky, you have free online solutions while they last:
1 - Formware: –[Free online stl repair tool](https://www.formware.co/OnlineStlRepair) (powerful, high granularity)
2 - Aspose: –[Convert any 3D formats online](https://products.aspose.app/3d/conversion) (std)
…
Source: '[https://all3dp.com/2/stl-repair-fixer-tool-online-offline/](https://all3dp.com/2/stl-repair-fixer-tool-online-offline/)
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### Author:  [@Bzhwindtalker](https://foil.zone/u/Bzhwindtalker)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 9:59am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/23 "2024-10-08T09:59:50Z")
Got another quote, at 15 usd per balde by QTY 60pcs (20 triblades)
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### Author:  [@nekitesurfing](https://foil.zone/u/nekitesurfing)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/24 "2024-10-08T18:34:17Z")
That is not too bad a price if you can find enough people. Which 3 blade propeller hub design would this be for?
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### Author:  [@Bzhwindtalker](https://foil.zone/u/Bzhwindtalker)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/25 "2024-10-08T19:34:01Z")
> **[Free CAD Designs, Files & 3D Models | The GrabCAD Community Library](https://grabcad.com/library/assist-parts-1)**
>
> The GrabCAD Library offers millions of free CAD designs, CAD files, and 3D models. Join the GrabCAD Community today to gain access and download!
Others have also designed similar hubs.
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### Author:  [@lishine](https://foil.zone/u/lishine)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/26 "2024-10-08T19:41:34Z")
Excellent price - we now know it’s feasible.
To get the full picture, please inquire if they can split the 60-piece batch into multiple shipments to various locations.
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### Author:  [@Bzhwindtalker](https://foil.zone/u/Bzhwindtalker)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/27 "2024-10-08T19:50:25Z")
Well I have other ongoing projects with this company, so unsure how realistic this price is, maybe they just wanted to be nice. Individual shipping is out of question I think.
Will check on later how I could organise an order.
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### Author:  [@heiguga](https://foil.zone/u/heiguga)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/28 "2024-10-08T20:09:58Z")
I am in for 9 blades.
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### Author:  [@JonathanC](https://foil.zone/u/JonathanC)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/29 "2024-10-08T22:25:18Z")
That’s crazy cheap for 60 blades, anything under a couple of hundred you are surely just paying setup. Assume that is raw and they need to be anodized after that? May be good to print the complete hub and blade setup in nylon and compare performance with the Foil Drive setup, I have the original Foil Drive 3 blade hub and don’t like the design much. Assume the 2nd Gen is improved. I’ve gone back to FD blades with my own printed hub. The alloy blades are really good.
Once proven I’m sure we could rustle up greater number than 60 pretty easily, you may have just started yourself a little business 😉
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### Author:  [@lishine](https://foil.zone/u/lishine)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/30 "2024-10-14T20:59:02Z")
There is a post on fd owners group with multiple comments about alu blades prop base or bolt failing.
For example:
If you use alu blades , you have to take into account the larger forces applied upon the hub and bolts in the instances of hit, vibrations, open/close, in/out of the water
Their hubs include inserts.
As a consequence of bolts failing they release now new bolts and fun thing - instruct owners to do DIY work on their hubs 😅
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sVesMvCgwI)
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2024, 7:07am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/31 "2024-10-15T07:07:12Z")
Another engineering masterpiece - a bolt.
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2024, 9:54am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/32 "2024-10-15T09:54:08Z")
And they recommend inserting a nut designed for injection molding with a soldering iron. It just doesn’t work!
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2024, 10:01am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/33 "2024-10-15T10:01:31Z")
Foil Drive just half#rse everything they do and then somehow sell their customers down the river that its ok that their systems keep breaking. It’s almost as though they are just social media influencing customers to be ok with DIYing an incredibly expensive solution.
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### Author:  [@lishine](https://foil.zone/u/lishine)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/34 "2024-12-02T20:52:44Z")
Did you finish 3 blade FD hub design?
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### Author:  [@Joka](https://foil.zone/u/Joka)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/35 "2025-05-29T19:03:48Z")
> **[Hub for a 3 blade FoilDrive blade by josh k | Download free STL model |...](https://www.printables.com/model/1301449-hub-for-a-3-blade-foildrive-blade)**
>
> A hub i designed for a 3 blade foil drive blade. Should fit the original FD blade. Havent tested it yet | Download free 3D printable STL models
Just realized i made it for m4 and the orignal foil drive blade uses a different screw size
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### Author:  [@nekitesurfing](https://foil.zone/u/nekitesurfing)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/36 "2025-05-29T19:29:02Z")
Nice! Thanks for sharing.
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2025, 9:15am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/37 "2025-05-30T09:15:42Z")
> [@Joka](#):
>
> Just realized i made it for m4 and the orignal foil drive blade uses a different screw size
Drilling the prop bolt holes to m4 just makes it better.
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### Author:  [@Cabronfoil](https://foil.zone/u/Cabronfoil)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/38 "2025-12-01T19:14:27Z")
Before starting a new thread: Are the blades uploaded on grabcad (linked further up) for the 3 blade prop tested for foil assist?
I have started ordering parts for my build and understand that the best bet is to go for the foil drive 3 prop, but if I am able to get a proven blade I could print, I am tempted to that.
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### Author:  [@Bzhwindtalker](https://foil.zone/u/Bzhwindtalker)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/39 "2025-12-01T20:41:34Z")
They work, but are noisy compared to FD style blades and require higher phase amps (high pitch, high torque)
I have dozens of sessions on this 3 blade alu printed prop, in all kind of conditions.
My use case is with very little motoring around, mostly pop up and pump, 120kv 6384 under 12S.
On my current main setup, I have carbon FD style blades, that I prefer for light weight and low noise.
> **[adam mercier on Instagram: "Wave hunting, a la poursuite des vedettes dans la...](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM3RI-FISDY/)**
>
> 18 likes, 3 comments - adam\_mercier\_fr on August 2, 2025: "Wave hunting, a la poursuite des vedettes dans la rance devant St malo. En barracuda xl, takoon slate v2 4.2 (la planche a bêtises 🧡) avec le foil drive open source 3.7kg. 🔥🔥🔥
>
> @foilenvie".
Most of the videos of assist on my insta are on this prop, excepted the most recent ones
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### Author:  [@Cabronfoil](https://foil.zone/u/Cabronfoil)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-drive-3-blades-prop/19168/40 "2025-12-01T21:00:55Z")
Thanks for letting me know. I will be running 12S, but I might print it at least and see
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