Freerides vs. Freeride Plus

[upallnight]

The drill bits from tognar.com are worth having. They have a collar on them so you cannot drill through the ski, and it insets the hole a bit as well.

some folks accomplish this with a regular drill bit + duct tape...but what TDS says is true: the tognar bits are basically foolproof if you can hold the drill straight, and the duct tape solution saves you a few $ (savings will be less than $10, assuming you have to buy a new bit anyway)...and it could create problems.

you want *sharp* bits, esp if going through metal.

[davep]

some folks accomplish this with a regular drill bit + duct tape...but what TDS says is true: the tognar bits are basically foolproof if you can hold the drill straight, and the duct tape solution saves you a few $ (savings will be less than $10, assuming you have to buy a new bit anyway)...and it could create problems.

you want *sharp* bits, esp if going through metal.

I built a little jig to help me drill skis (needed access to a machine shop to make it though) - it's just a block of aluminum, that I milled to 9mm thinner than the length of my drill bit when it's chucked in my hand drill. Then I used a drill press to drill a hole thru it, with the same bit I use for skis.

I just sit the block on the ski (after center-punching where I want to drill a hole) and drill through it - it keeps the drill bit perpendicular to the ski, and keeps the bit from going more than 9mm deep. I think it's more idiot-proof than wrapping electrical tape.

mtaylor - if you're planning to mount just 1 pair of skis, then I'd just do it on the drill press like you said. If you plan to do more in the future, and would rather do them at home than in the shop, then it's worth buying a proper bit from tognar, or building a simple jig

[pechelman]

I built a little jig to help me drill skis (needed access to a machine shop to make it though) - it's just a block of aluminum, that I milled to 9mm thinner than the length of my drill bit when it's chucked in my hand drill. Then I used a drill press to drill a hole thru it, with the same bit I use for skis.

I just sit the block on the ski (after center-punching where I want to drill a hole) and drill through it - it keeps the drill bit perpendicular to the ski, and keeps the bit from going more than 9mm deep. I think it's more idiot-proof than wrapping electrical tape.

mtaylor - if you're planning to mount just 1 pair of skis, then I'd just do it on the drill press like you said. If you plan to do more in the future, and would rather do them at home than in the shop, then it's worth buying a proper bit from tognar, or building a simple jig

Ive thought about making something like this except using a clear peice of thick lexan and inserting steel bushings for the holes. Also maybe cutting a couple of centerlines to help with alignment.

[jfost]

What about buying that rear plate from the + and retro-fitting it to the old freeride???

Is it unpossible?