Name that drill pattern, and should I match it?

[The Dad]

Continuing a thread I foolishly started in Ski/Snowboard....

I bought a pair of K2 Apache Junior 136s for my daughter at the REI used gear sale -- drilled once, never used. Now I need to buy bindings for them.

Am I correct to assume that if I can figure out what they were drilled for last time, and on the off chance that they were drilled for the sole length my daughter skis, I'm better off getting the same bindings so that they don't have to be redrilled?

In case that's correct, here's a picture of the drill pattern. Anyone recognize it? Note the inverted trapezoid at the front, slight trapezoid at the rear:

[bdog]

Your assumption is mostly correct. Drilling out the plastic plugs in the holes does slightly enlarge the screw hole and increases the chance of the screw stripping when it is turned. There is no harm in re-drilling as long as the holes are at least 1mm apart and not in line with each other. Generally an adult ski can be drilled safely three times. Many of us have skied on pairs that look like swiss cheese and are fine. I'll look into the hole pattern and let you know what I think. Again, your local shop should be able to match it right away. Off hand I would say it is a Rossi or Look pattern but I really would need to match it to a template (jig) to be sure; something your local shop should be able to do.

[marshalolson]

do not redrill into existing holes in a kids ski.

it is hard enough to not sping screws on the first try... second try is

[El Chupacabra]

I guess I'll go against the grain here -- I've drilled out & re-used old binding holes several times, no problems. If those were my skis, I'd drill out the plastic plugs with an undersized bit, clean out the holes (compressed air), slap some marine epoxy in the holes, and mount the bindings in the same place -- assuming that the bindings will fit the desired boot size.

Worst case scenario: bindings rip out. Plug the holes, start over. You have a second set of holes -- which is what you'd have if you leave those plastic plugs in place and drill a second set right now.

[Lok]

Using a little steel wool with the epoxy will help. BTW, that looks like last years pivot/axial pattern to me, but you probably need a jig to find the bootsole length they were mounted for.

[Mechmaster]

I'd guess Rossi Axial/Look Pivot on the pattern.

If you drill out the plugs using an undersize bit and don't wreck the threads getting the pieces out, you'll most likely be fine. Watch out for screw length on a kid's ski when using adult bindings; nobody wants a dimpled base.

[El Chupacabra]

Using a little steel wool with the epoxy will help.

Ditto, or try fiberglass:

The last skis I (re)mounted in the same binding holes were Bro Models, where the toepiece holes were a little loose -- I think the first drilling had used the wrong size bit. I decided to reuse the holes anyway.

Somewhere on TTips I read a suggestion to use fiberglass fibers rather than steel wool; apparently has the same effect of providing some structure to the epoxy, but won't rust in the way that steel wool can. I used a few tufts of household insulation fiberglass, jammed them into the binding holes (using a toothpick) after filling the holes with epoxy, then screwed the bindings on.

I stuffed the tips of the Bros into a flat landing on Saturday, due to poor visibility. Felt like the front half of the skis was going to fold over on me. Bindings held just fine.

[The Dad]

Excellent -- thanks for the feedback, all.

Off to swap to search for bindings....