leash plug install tip

Well it took me about 7 years to suss this one out...but I guess there are many of you who already are in the know but I figure it may benefit someone out there. I've got hundred of the little rings and circles left over from FCS reservoirs and the only use I've found for them in the past is to stick them to my eyelids and chase the kids round the garden. They seem to find it funny every time. Then in a flash of inspiration I stuck one round the hole I cut for the leash plug and hey presto - lovely neat job - I use the fcs fin install cutters to make the hole for my leash plugs so really it didnt need a genius to work this one out! Hope it helps someone... Cheers Rich www.thirdshade.com

we’re looking at a resin dam right?

Cool! Looks like it’s doin’ the trick

i also use them for that reason. my other tip is to do them after i have finished sanding the board, cover the nearby area with tape before cutting the hole. I used to always do them after hotcoating, before sanding. but i find they are coming out neater when i do them after sanding and tape off. then just sand it down to the tape, peel and done. 

…do you use poly or epoxy to stick them on your eyelids ?

Killer!

 

I tend to install my hardware right after my fill coat. 

For my leash plugs, I drill a tiny hole very shallow ~1/16" by 1/8" deep.  Then I cover the whole area with tape – about a 4"x4" area.

I have a cheapo drill press attachement to my drill that I put on and set the depth and then I use a fostner bit to drill out the plug hole.  The little pilot hole guides it…  ;)   Then I set the plug and let it cure – when I do this I put tape over the top and put a BUNCH of filler + resin over the top and all around so I don’t get the incredible shrinking resin trick…

Finally, I sand it down to the tape…

 

Then pull the tape and sand the whole deck, and go from there.  Works pretty good.

Disappointing quality of leash plug installs recieved from well respected USA shaper.

If you are drilling through a stringer take a few seconds to blow out the coloured dust.

With the resin dam any bubbles will rise to the surface and be sanded off.

 

That's a cool tip but we like the preglass plugs from FCS, just easier and stronger all around. Of course, we don't have those big pieces of wood running down the middle of our boards either.