I have an old board that I want to convert from FCS plugs to the probox system, is this possible?
W1978, Just make sure your router bit (carbide of course) is sharp and go slow taking shallow cuts on the plugs. Of course remove the grub screws first. Leave the remainder of the plugs in place and do your Probox installation as normal. Leaving the remainder of the plugs in place IMHO should make for an even stronger installation.
Good luck, Dave D
Before you glue and route place you fins back into your FCS plugs and run a pencil line from along the inside of the base of the fin from end to end. Put a pencil dot up against the back end of the base of the fin as well. Now your original toe in and inside fin edge can be used to line up the jig.
One way to get the plugs out without the heartburn of routing them, is to use a 1" hole saw. Cut a hole in a piece of 1/4" material then use that as a guide holding it in place with your freehand over the outline plug. Take your drill and cut the hole, then when you're to depth (you can estimate this if you don't have some plugs using your FCS fin tab as a guide, just go a bit deeper than the tab's depth), stick a 3/4" chisel in the fin slot and give it a good twist. The plug will pop out, break, or both, but it's out of the way and your router bit will thank you.
Surfthis is exactly right, Thanks Surfthis. Make your shaper marks like Dean said, Then Holesaw like Surfthis suggested. After set your Probox Jigs over on your shaper marks and you are ready to route. Install ProBoxes and when you are done, your board looks like you never had FCS plugs in period except maybe the circles on the deck. Thanks for joining the ProBox Movement my friend and expanding your board functions to it’s full potental. Thanks Surfthis and Dean for helping out my friends. Mahalo, Larry
Nice work Larry!
The holesaw is a great idea surfthis, wish I’d though of that. Simple. I’ve
done a few FCS and futures-to-Probox conversions and routed the plugs
out. Takes a little patience and the ability to trust yourself with a
router but it’s not too bad. I’ll definitely be trying the holesaw next
time someone wants a conversion. Piece of cake!
~Brian