I had a low tide reef mishap (board a week old), board went over the falls onto very shallow reef, pretty sure one of the fins took a direct hit on top which has punched the back of my FCS2 plug in about 3mm+ (1/8" for the imperial fans) and also caused the trailing edge of the fin to puncture the glass.
Anyways what is the best method for removing the finbox/plug?
Would I be able to reuse or should I try and ask the shaper for a new one? (As I have heard FCS don’t sell to the public)
I’ll be ok reinstalling the plug as there is sufficient information to assist me online, but lacking info on fcs2 repairs probably due to them being relatively new?
I had the exact same thing happen to me with two fins in a quad, Probox plugs. I just routered them out, and will be replacing with new. Have you looked at Greenlight or Foam E-Z for those? Should be pretty basic removal / install. Have you installed fin plugs before? Might have to get a jig for the router, hopefully not too expensive, if it is, this might be a job for your local surfboard repair shop, since they will already have the jig needed.
I don’t see any cracks, so you can reuse it if you can sucessfully remove it. To remove use a dremel or other small rotary tool and a straight cutter bit (about 3/4" long). Cut right against the dog-bone shape until you’re at the bottom. Put a couple of big flat blade screwdrivers (or chisels, small pry bars, etc) in the holes and lever it side to side until the bottom breaks free. If you destroyed it, cut it up with a wheel in the dremel and take it out in pieces (usually 2). They normally come out pretty clean for us, but 90% are eps and most of the foam has been melted during the install anyhow.
Thanks for the replies. Have replaced and installed my fair share of fcs ones and shapers plugs, so I should be ok to reinstall. I have a router but no jig, I assume this method would destroy the plug/box. Im a carpenter and have decent free hand control with a laminate trimmer/1/4" router so might grab a super skinny bit and try to route around it and pry it out. Don’t have a dremel unfortunately.
haha - good to know! Definitely want to avoid hitting that, probably ruin your router bit in a heartbeat.
Mitch, I have done the same. I set my router bit on a really shallow depth, and carefully made several passes, lowering the bit little by little. Avoid that rod! I know you know that. I used my trim router freehand to take my bad plugs out, but I stayed inside the line just a little, then used my jig to clean it up once I had removed the old plug completely (yes, I ruined the old plugs routering them out).
I never even thought about trying to save / re-use the plug, but if they’re hard to get, I would consider giving it a try. Maybe router around the perimeter to the depth of the plug, carefully pull it out and clean it up as needed (hopefully doesn’t take a piece of the foam below it with it when you remove it), glue a piece of foam in the hole, then install per normal.
Im with mcding, Box is good I wouldnt rout that thing out… In the board repair.
Not sure why you would even consider routing around the box? Sounds like making a bigger mess to repair and save a 6.00 fin box.
If you cut the glass off the top you can usually put a fin in and pull the box right out. wiggle it a bit first and boom. pull it straight up. You still save the box that way.
Unless, it was routed with the T bit vs the Straight bit. but you will know that when you try to pull up.
I would pull the glass level the plug, syringe some resin back down underneath the box , glass over the box and go.
Thanks guys. I like the sound of your method Acqua
So where would you syringe the resin in once resetting the height of the plug? Would you just drill some angular holes around the box aiming for the bottom of the plug/deepest part of the box and syringe away?
I thought routing out a damaged fin plug was pretty standard / easy way to get the old plug out clean, it works for me. But you guys are the experts. To each their own.
