Quick question about leash and fin plugs in EPS

I just finished a few EPS blanks and glassed using Resin Research (which is amazing). I set the plugs in one board with the epoxy resin and noticed it attacked the foam. It wasn’t too bad being that I put I cold rags underneath. Then I tried the next by filling the holes half way, and then filling the rest of the way in a few hours. This kept everything good and strong, but I was just wondering if there was and easier way of doing this; especially with the leash plugs. Thanks mucho…

when the resin pools, it generates a lot of heat. if you cut your holes to a tighter fit, it shouldn’t burn up on ya.

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when the resin pools, it generates a lot of heat. if you cut your holes to a tighter fit, it shouldn’t burn up on ya.

Thanks for the idea soul! I cut the holes with the FCS installation kit drill bits already though. I’ve looked around the forum quite a bit, and found a few people saying there were some different methods, but I’m alittle unclear. I just seeing if someone could show me a way to keep the resin (in the FCS standard size hole) from burning the foam. Thanks!!

Use a mix heavy in chopped glass. It is stronger anyway, and displaces a lot of resin, and absorbs some of that heat. 1:1 resin to glass is fine. Just cut up your glass with scissors into 1 cm bits and pull it all apart.

A fan helps too.

Its possible to use the 5min epoxy you find in the hobby stores to initially fill the hole a little

or you can use a slower hardener or even mix some fast and some slow hardener

You can also add some q-cell, with the chopped fibers, it doesn’t seem to affect the over all strength of the install… still rips out in one big chunk like usual… (FCS plugs) :slight_smile: -carl

I use a little microballoons and slow hardener. I usually just eyeball it, but I think it’s about 1/2 to 3/4 the amount of hardener. I make it to the consistency of runny pancake batter. Doesn’t seem to build up much or any noticeable heat at all.

A thousand thankyou’s to you all. I appreciate the responses very much! I was having some worries.

I do the same thing… microballoons, slow hardener… and I add some pigment, too. So you get an even slower cure, and if you want, some really cool colors.

I won’t do FCS in EPS. I do ProBox instead. Less headaches. Why mess around with multiple batches?

Oh and for leash plugs, Louis over here at FGH sells a “3min” clear epoxy that will give you time do to at least two plugs at once, more if it’s cool, in the mid 70’s. At 85 or over though, two is the max before it gels. I also use it to tack on fins to be glassed onto epoxy boards. I find it indispensable.