Quick Strapless Conversion Question

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

I just picked up a nice Kazuma today that had some straps installed. I took them off and of course the screws are definitely long and were screwed through the stomp pads and into the board.

What do I need to use to plug the holes up so it doesn't waterlog? Or are there inserts that I'm not seeing?

FYI: It's a double-glassed Kazuma.

Thanks ya'll.

RayFinkle · Since 01 Feb 2012 10 Posts

I would take a razor blade and trim a little bit of material around the holes where the screws were. Most boards would need a female insert for the screw to hang onto but those screws just look wrong for the application. If I were to fill the holes I would get a little polyester resin and fumed silica make a thick peanut butter mix and inject it with a resin syringe. Now that would get a little expensive if you don't happen to have any fiberglass supplies laying around but I bet there is something at the hardware store you could pickup like a thick epoxy glue or some weatherproofing caulk

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 425 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

If you just need to fill in the holes, I would use JB Weld. Lite weight and very strong.

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

JB Weld? Holy shit, seriously?

I've got the stuff. I would feel weird using it though.

It's probably a simple fix. I think I've got some liquid epoxy or something. JB Weld? Holy shit.

Killer input.

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

jb weld works great!!

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 204 Posts Stoked

I would guess that there are inserts in that board - without them the straps would pull out. If you never plan on using the straps again, JB Weld should work fine. I used silicon calking for some potentially leaky inserts on a windsurfing board - worked great and the inserts would still work if I had to change footstrap positions.

nickdward · Since 11 Aug 2008 130 Posts Seattle Stoked

Yep, any kind of resin or epoxy (incl JB weld) will work fine, especially with a filler to thicken it up, but just use what you have. There's probably inserts in there, like someone else said, but it is possible to screw thru the insert into the board if the screws were too long. If that's the case you wouldn't want to use straight up resin without thickening it because the foam will suck resin and add weight.

Most strap inserts installed by do it yourselfers are just a hunk of plastic under the glass, then you would tap a hole in the plastic with a wood screw like what you have.

If you ever want to put straps in again, you could just drill those screws into the resin filled hole (but maybe get shorter screws to avoid going thru to the foam)

Mark · Sun Feb 19, 12 2:51 pm

Go to woodcrafters and pick up Superglue thick. It's made to fill holes.

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

I hope all the new folks are seeing the massive amount of information available on NWKite.

I just posted a day ago and there's already everything I probably need to know already up on the site.

And yes, there are in fact inserts in the board. I think I might go silicone just to give me the option of putting the straps back on (probably won't but you never know). I feel that JB Weld would be a more permanent decision.

Did I mention that I got this board for 20 bucks? Friggin' crazy yeah?

Hardly been used. God bless Hawaii.