FCS Plug Installation

I’m gathering materials to install FCS plugs on a few of my boards to mount a GoPro HD cam. I was hoping some of our resident gurus could chime in on the proper tools.

I contacted the cool folks over at FoamEZ and they recommended this plug:

http://www.foamez.com/fcs-x2-charcoal-p ... p-199.html

Based on some google and youtube searches, a 1-1/8” hole saw is recommended to mount the plug but FoamEZ actually recommended using a 1-1/4” size.

The hole saw itself has a much thicker pilot drill bit although others recommend a 1/8” pilot.

For those of you that have worked with FCS plugs, what did you use?

Hey Rob,

I've installed FCS plugs and leash plugs, and used a Forstner bit. It makes a cleaner hole than a hole saw.

http://www.toolstoday.com/p-5370-carbid ... c660_d_130

Sweet ...





Since it's a double stringer, figured I could lay the plug between them without damaging too much integrity. I did end up shaving a bit into the inside of the stringers. Also that hole goes just about straight through ... which kinda sketches me out. There is a small hole that does go straight through from the pilot drill bit in the hole saw. Filled it in with filler and resin halfway, rested the plug, and let that set. Then I filled in the gap with just resin. I think it turned out pretty clean. Can't wait to test it out!!

looks good

Thanks ... unfortunately I realized after the fact that it's totally effed up LOL. The Youtube video I followed was effed up to begin with. See how I glassed in the little stubs on both sides of the plug? Those things are supposed to be guides and the plug is supposed to rest slightly higher than the deck. I was wondering how the heck to keep resin from getting into the plug. I came up with an idea using masking tape I was particularly proud of ... but had I done it the right way, you'd have a little wall keeping resin from getting in. Once everything is set, the protruding part of the plug just gets sanded away including the little stubs. Dah!! I'll be redoing this.

Well yanking out the plug was not too bad. I redrilled through the pilot hole from the bottom and then redid the hole saw from the top. I was lucky I didn't just punch straight through the board although I had planned for that happening. With some effort I was able to pry out the plug and clean out the hole. I've got another FCS plug setting in now but this time done right - with the elbows being used to suspend the plug in the hole. Unfortunately, I might have went a little crazy with the filler and put in too much. It got to a point I just figured I'd use all filler. In the installation above, it's about half filler and the rest just resin (without filler).

I'm hoping to carve out some time after work and finish the job before the weekend.

For a first time dont beat your self up it would have been fine as it was..
heck i had to replace the ones in my center fin and i set the nubs in my stringer as i never did them or seen one do a set as i just set single fin boxs..
I ended up taking both plugs out as i was getting cracking around them and they were kinda getting loose so i put in a fcs future box and its way stronger...
Try this when you set your plug dont fill it all the way leave enougph room to poor some white epoxy around it then when dry do your glassing and finnish aroud it as im thinking this is how factore do it ..

Thanks sol ... but yeah as it was, the screw was barely gripping onto the very edge of the male connector. Pretty sketchy. I don't think I'll be punching a hole into my wife's new epoxy but I'll be mounting a plug into the hybrid and one of the thrusters. At least now I'll now what I'm doing lol. And an FCS specific hole saw I picked up from Foam EZ should help keep things looking clean ... like not having to punch a pilot hole through the board lol.

I had a shop do my GoPro FCS plugs in my longboard. While I pride myself in being pretty handy when it comes to that sort of thing, I just couldn't bring myself to drill a hole into my board.

One thing the shop did was install a plug with a bar in it to attach the little leash that the camera has to. Just thought I'd throw that idea out there in case the mount ever gets broken or whatever and you're not out of a $200+ camera.