Hi eveyrone.
i hear that there is some issues `about installing fin plugs and boxes in eps boards.
i know about the option of installing the plug\box in a separate piece of high sensity foam and than install that in the blank
but not sure about the exact process.
anyone knows?
thanks.
The foam inserts are installed into the blank first.
But you can do hassle free plug installs directly into regular 2 lb EPS. Use slow hardener, a dab of pigment, a sprinkle of microbubbles, and cold wet cloths underneath the deck to absorb the heat. You can also do the install in two phases, filling the bottom of the hole in the first step, letting it harden, then installing the plug in the second step.
for side fins, I put high density (foam, balsa or paulownia) from bottom to deck , it's minimal weight, and good insurance . Same for the centre fin , just wide enough to route the box in.
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The foam inserts are installed into the blank first.
But you can do hassle free plug installs directly into regular 2 lb EPS. Use slow hardener, a dab of pigment, a sprinkle of microbubbles, and cold wet cloths underneath the deck to absorb the heat. You can also do the install in two phases, filling the bottom of the hole in the first step, letting it harden, then installing the plug in the second step.
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Thanks for the info; however I would love to get a more detailed process if u can help with it.
I am using 1.5lb EPS and want to see the best way to install the fin plugs or boxes.
I already had issues with a set of plugs I installed so I really want to find the best method.
So a detailed way will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Mike.
Don't do plugs in EPS.
FCS went to a box ...that says quite a bit about boxes being better. Search for a thread called "How I ProBox". Then do an advanced search for "meltdown" with Stingray as the poster. I'm really good at melting down perfectly good EPS foam.
Do what NJ surfer says.
If you're cheap like me and you don't want to buy slow hardener or infusion resin do it with 3 small pours to keep the heat down...line the holes with 6 oz cloth......do a little more searching......play around with your user profile and post a location...there might be someone close by that can help you.... At the top right hand cornner of your screen there's a blank white box. Search function starts there...
Ray
I have fitted both Futures and the new f3 boxes to EPS boards. Despite some heavy ‘groundings’ (I use the boards with kites) I have had no problems with the boxes moving.
After glassing the deck, I router out the box cavity to slightly more than the depth of the box. I then use a piece of thin walled, sharpened 10mm or 12mm dia tubing to core out 3 holes from the bottom of the box cavity through to the deck glass. if this is not too deep, I fill the holes with Epoxy/microballoons then fit the box. If the holes are deep, ie a thick board, I glue loose fitting airex foam plugs into the holes with epoxy/microballoons, then finbox on top of that. I guess wood plugs would also do the job.
I
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Thousand words...
Josh
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TWO WORDS.............''Beautiful work.''
Yup
jaw dropping beautiful, simple and functional
Damn, I wish we had easy access to cheap Paulownia here in Hawaii.
It's got to be the best and most strikingly beautiful wood for composite skins.
Was that "labeling" around the tail a "BB" thing?
He's one of the first(Magic Carpet) I've seen do it that way..
Also is that an HD/wood staggerred rail band too?
GL says with 1.5lb and 2lb you don't need it.
there's two schools out there
higher density cores(1.5lb and above) with thin veneer skins and
low density cores(1lb or less) with 3/32"-1/8" thick skins
This guy been building wood skinned EPS cored surfboards probably longer than anyone out there doing it today and now he's switched to pink XPS cores and HD corecell rails and look at the cut away of his fin box setup.. It's pretty amazing the amount of work he puts in to his box work and skins..
Sorry, this is a question rather than a way of helping you...But is it possible to use a poly glue like gorilla glue to simply glue the boxes in place? this would avoid any heat problems and should be strong enough. Anyone ever tried this?
Really nice Speed. YOu do the inserts after glassing? They’re about the size of the 3 lb. inserts I’ve used with 1 lb blanks, FCS plugs, no problems…so far. I’ve also installed FCS in 2 lb with no inserts, no problems. 1.5? Greg says no inserts needed. He’s done a few…
I agree with Onuela about the paulownia. After my Snapper snapped I was impressed by how the resin adhered to the paulownia and not to the balsa. I keep doing internet searches for suppliers but come up with nothing.
Oh, one other thing…are those fins glass flex or G10? I ask because, since my 5 fin snapped, I’ve been trying all my boards with all kind of fin set ups. I tried the Griffin G10’s on a thruster. The forward fins are kind of big and the trailer in one of the small ones (from the set of three). It worked great. The little trailer loosened up the tail and the big, stiff G10’s were really drivey.
Thanks for all the replies here; I’m getting lots of useful info.
I have a very strange situation that happened to me. I built 20 NON-TRANSPARENT SUP EPS boards and some started to bubble.
The issue is that they all started at different times.
Example - 2 were done 20 days after completing the boards, than I had another 2 40 days after and now about 60 day later I have 3 more.
Some have vents and some didn’t, but it didn’t matter
I used the same batch of EPS from one supplier.
Used the same laminating method and everything was very similar.
I still have some boards that are fine.
I also made 20 boards that are TRANSPARENT and they are all perfectly good 6 months after I made them and they didn’t have any vents.
All the boards are in Florida.
What can cause them to bubble at different times? And maybe the TRANSPARENT BOARDS are more immune to bubbling??
Possibly residual moisture from the Eps blowing procedure......its happened to me , but not for years now......it can happen
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I agree with Onuela about the paulownia. After my Snapper snapped I was impressed by how the resin adhered to the paulownia and not to the balsa. I keep doing internet searches for suppliers but come up with nothing.
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lliblel, I was trying to PM you this info to avoid hijacking this thread, but couldn't get that to work. Anyway, try these guys, you'll have to re-saw, but they have pawlonia in stock and the price includes shipping. I haven't ordered from them, just found it a while back and saved the site.
MIke’s right… the FCS Fusion system is better than the plug system. But if that’s what you want to use, from what I can see in the ad, they look OK. However, if you use a knock-off product, you never know what you’re gonna get. Nine times out of ten, it’s an inferior product. You just never know.
The problem with melting the foam is this: the plug system uses a bigger hole in the foam than the fusion sytem, or Probox, or some other systems, which have tighter fitting holes. The excess space in the plug hole has to be filled with resin. As the resin hardens, it exotherms - produces heat. The greater the volume of resin, the more heat. So a big, sloppy hole, with a bunch of resin in it, will exotherm a lot. A snug hole that requires less resin produces little exotherm. In some cases, like if it’s a hot day, if your hole was too big, if the resin is warm, if you used fast hardener, etc… the heat can exceed the melting point of the EPS (about 140 degrees F). Slow hardener reduces the exotherm, so it’s wise to go with slow hardener.
I’ve done plenty of FCS plug installs into regular #2 EPS with no issues. See my above post for the “tricks” to avoiding disaster. One thing I don’t mention in that post is INVEST IN THE INSTALL KIT so you have the proper tools. Using the wrong tools, or using the wrong technique greatly increases your chance of a meltdown or eventual plug failure. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
hi there,
I am making my first surfboard form EPS 200 and slow drying epoxyresin +glassfiber 4oz.
But now I want to buy fin plugs, but I am so confused about al the messages about melting EPS with FCS plugs??
What must I do? Is it ok to buy these plugs: (fake FCS plugs): http://www.seabase.eu/product/EFE1/Seabase/Euro-Fin-Systems-:AND:-FCS/Eurofin-Side-Plug
Or will this go wrong? What are the solutions for this? Please I am a beginner, so easy explanations are appreciated
I hope to hear from you
For doing FCS in eps, use the Fusion.
Thank you for the reactions!
So the fusion boxes are better, where can I buy this boxes. A place most near to the Netherlands? And where can you buy the installations tools for as well the plugs as the fusion boxes?
Greetz,
Fauve
I know Foam-ez carries the install kits and the boxes/plugs, etc. You might also try Fiberglass Supply. Both are in the states, but should be able to ship to you.
