So I just picked up my new board, and it came out perfect except for one thing. It has a leash hole that comes up through the fin box. The small problem is that the shaper made an oversight and the hole is still glassed over. I didn’t notice when I picked it up. Can I just drill through the glass? My concern is that I don’t want to do something incorrectly and have the glass around it crack. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Drill a tiny hole first, then a slightly bigger one, then your final 1/4" hole. Put your drill on its highest speed, but brace your arms so you move through the board slowly - you don’t want the bit to grab & pull through too fast.
If there wasn’t a 3/8" hole drilled first and then filled with resin, your 1/4" hole will expose foam between the top of the box & the deck. If that happens, drill it out to 3/8" (that’s the slot width, too). Fill it with resin, chopped glass, and pigment. After its completely set, drill it out 1/8", 3/16", 1/4".
If you have a plunge router, a 1/4" bit, carefully aligned, does the trick very nicely.
yeah router is the best option.
when motion will cut it wthout worrying about ripping apart the surrounding glass
ninefour,
Sounds like there’s just gloss over the hole since the box and leash hole are done after hot coating (usually).
If you clearly see the 1/2" or 3/8" dot on the deck (I usually do mine 1/2 vs. Benny’s 3/8 with 1/4" hole), it just means they forgot to drill it out.
Just follow Benny’s directions to get the final 1/4" hole and you should be fine.
If you’re the least bit hesitant about screwing up your new board - take it back to the shop, if possible, and they should be happy to do it
I talked to the shaper and it turns out it’s not glass, just tape that had some gloss coat on it. So it’s no big deal. Sorry for the trouble.
Hey Ninefour:
I cap all my fin boxes and leash plugs with glass. I use a rotor zip set at 1/8" to open it up after I gloss and polish. Finish resin over tape is a no big deal like you said.
D
the spirits are present in all life.
you have been redeemed
the leash curse has been relegated to your
CHOICE
the glassed over feature Gives you
the Option of not playing
the contemporary accepted bondage ritual.
save expense of leash after leash
and collect the experience and learning
of swim after swim.
become a waterman
or stay man with pulltoy
let the next owner choose to leash himself
shun the crutch…
…ambrose…
someone speaking up for
the nobility of swimming
Hey - somebody forgot to drill these, too 
I always wear a leash , u catch more waves.