Hello, I have a question related to FCS fin-plug installation.
Yesterday I installed the FCS plugs into my newly shaped board. The problem is, I made the mistake of not taking out the little screws or covering up the hole (where the fin tab goes). As a result, there’s a bit of excess resin in it. How do I get some of the resin out of the fin plugs?
Another thing that happened is that I drilled the hole a bit too deep. The plugs sit about 1/8th, maybe 1/4th of an inch below the bottom of the deck of the board (did that make sense?).
So, I can’t really tighten fins into the fin plug since they sit too low.
My questions are, how can I get resin out of FCS fin plugs, and how can I remove the fin plugs so I can re-install them better?
if you purchased the complete kit for the FCS installation, you’ll find you have a template for removal of plugs in the kit. there is also an FCs installation video, which if memory serves me right, shows the de-installation of FCS plugs.
if you don’t have that, you could contact surfsource in Atlantic Beach, FL, and they can ship to you.
JLW, It sounds like you don’t have the FCS installation kit. It’s worth getting one for the reasons you stated. Also, since the plugs have tabs to set the depth, did you drill the holes with too large of a diameter?
But back to your present situation. You can clean out the screws by carefully drilling into the hole with a small drill bit. The bit should be smaller than the opening in the top of the screw so you don’t destroy the angular configuration of the screw. After drilling, clean out the hole with a sharp something: like a needle or small nail.Then push the FCS wrench in with some pressure and back them out.
To remove the plugs, you’ll have to drill them out with a clean-cutting bit that’s a little larger than the plug itself. A power bore, or a speed bore works well.
The FCS installation kit has a template that you can hot-glue to the board for drilling out the plugs. I helps keep the bit from wandering, giving you a cleaner hole for the new installation.
You can correct the situation with some patience and care. Get the kit if you can. It’s designed to make the process straightforward and accurate with no problems. Doug