FCS II - router bit selection

General Discussion
1

About to gear-up with a fin box installation system and leaning toward FCS II.

Regarding the router bit used to route the opening the instructions show a router bit with a flared tip (provides and undercut around the perimeter of the hole) and I see some places selling either that flared bit, or some that appear to have a less expensive straight bit.

Can either be used to install FCS II with reliable results, or should I make sure to spend the extra and get the flared router bit?

 

thank you all

 Daniel 

2

Just heard back from Greenlight that FCS changed the bit to the straight flute - more economical, and should work just as well.

3

The OG bits were straight flute. The flared bit came about maybe 6 months later. Heard a few reasons for why.

Prior to that bit, and further back to fusions we have always run a nail head along the bottom that emulated that bit. Learned this from another shop. They called it rooting the boxes since there wasn’t anything that really secured them into the foam. We did and stI’ll do do it as well with the Origins and 2s.

I think fcs went with that plan too until people bitched about the bit costing way more.

4

Acqua_Glassing - thank you for the nail-head tip. Makes great sense, and an easy way to create that base channel for a stronger grip.

I had been tempted to go with Futures, but really, really leaning to FCS II in no small part due to the install procedure and routing jig simplicity.

5

that is a nice tip @aqua_glassing. do either of you know if fusions and fcs11 are the same overall size? is the difference in the routing jigs just height??

6

the footprints of the 3 boxes are all totally different.

Its super easy to use a box to make the jig for that particular box.

If you want to not have to adjust your router ever.

The Fusion jig is 8mm thick

the FCS2 jig is 9mm thick

the Origins jig is 14mm thick