PSA: Mount your own fucking skis.

[J. Barron DeJong]

Is this^^^ common shop practice?

The ski manufacturers all specify to tap metal in their tech manuals, right?

[SoVT Joey]

Is this^^^ common shop practice?

The ski manufacturers all specify to tap metal in their tech manuals, right?

Its the way I’ve always done it, all the techs I’ve worked with have, the way i was taught.

Only tech manuals i ever pick up are the ones for new bindings.

i guess it’s probably different for different people. I’m very comfortable with power tools and have drilled pieces of stone that cost a lot more then skis so my confidence level is pretty high. Just follow basic rules, tips to the left, turn the skis over to bang out the holes of debris. never blow with air from your mouth, that’s bad luck.

[Shorty_J]

I do use my cordless drill with the clutch set low enough to avoid stripping the threads then finish off by hand.

Same.

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[Shorty_J]

Its the way I’ve always done it, all the techs I’ve worked with have, the way i was taught.

Only tech manuals i ever pick up are the ones for new bindings.

Tapping takes literally about 5 more minutes than not tapping... if that.

I can I understand, maybe, why a business wouldn't do it... but that is not what this thread is about is it.

I take my time on my mounts and I tap metal topseets.

YMMV.

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[3PinGrin]

Tapping takes literally about 5 more minutes than not tapping... if that.

I can I understand, maybe, why a business wouldn't do it... but that is not what this thread is about is it.

I take my time on my mounts and I tap metal topseets.

YMMV.

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Shops are busy, mistakes happen, sometimes the tech is very good sometimes not so much. And if I make a mistake it’s on me (only two minor issues over the years, one the result of too many beers, lesson learned).

It’s nice having control over your own work, know exactly how it was done, if there were any little nuances to know about that might affect something down the road, etc. Plus it’s enjoyable and cheap if you don’t spend a lot of money on jigs, etc.

I never worried about not having a tap (not a big deal if done right) but now that I have that and a step bit would never give either up.

[Shorty_J]

^^^ well said. I'm of the same mind.

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[XXX-er]

I’ve mounted a lot of skis, tons of skis with a lot of metal in them. I never tap. Only for inserts. I use my m12 impact set on 1 and then finish by hand. Tapping every mount would take way to long in a shop setting, also the reason inserts cost more then a regular mount.

good point, i'm betting you don't use epoxy either

[J. Barron DeJong]

When I started mounting I bought a tap since that’s what manufacturers guidance called for. I plan on continuing to use it, since the extra time just isn’t an issue when I mount two pairs of skis at most in a season.

Just seems odd to me that a shop wouldn’t tap if that’s what’s specified. Kind of like using the wrong size drill bit, or not using proper glue.

But maybe a bunch of shops are doing it without issues.

[Drazzamatazz]

Quiver Killer rescue insert? https://quiverkiller.com/products/qk...inserts-4-pack
Saved me when I ripped out a helicoiled heel piece

Didn't know these existed, a little spendy, but good to know. I'd also need to decide whether I'd be better served with a helicoil setup, as I'd probably want to get at least the larger tap for the rescue inserts.

[Drazzamatazz]

Never dealt with inserts but slowset epoxy & some FG strands chopped into 1/2" lengths will work for binding screws IME so I imagine it would work for an insert, run the screw in till its about to spin and let cure for a day or 2 before cranking it down

This seems like the easiest and cheapest route. Also swap the bindings around pretty regularly, so I'd be able to keep an eye on things.

[SoVT Joey]

good point, i'm betting you don't use epoxy either

caught me, go stuff some more fiberglass in a hole.

[gregL]

caught me, go stuff some more fiberglass in a hole.

Nobody cares as much about how your skis are mounted as you. If you want your holes tapped and G-Flex in the holes you better do it yourself.

[sb]

Like

[XXX-er]

Nobody cares as much about how your skis are mounted as you. If you want your holes tapped and G-Flex in the holes you better do it yourself.

well in a shop where they need to make money shop bro would probably be doing more skis in a shift than I would in my lifetime, he wouldn't be wanking about with FG strands or 2 part, he would be using wood glue cuz 2 part is too fucking slow costs more not really necessary, same with the wine bottlecork & 5/32 bit he would have the right jigs and bits

No work arounds, shop bro would have a heli coil kit not FG strands, he would have ordered the correct bits, the correct taps, enough binding plugs all before the season to last the season, he would have the right jigs, the right power screwdriver, the right set of good ski vices

None of it is bad or wrong, it would be nice to personaly own it all but it would probably be cheaper to just pay for mounts

[fleaches]

Got my first spinner today out of a dozen + mounts (mantra 102 of all skis).

Stuffed fiber glass and g flex in there and I'll see if it's snug when it dries, but if not is there a preference for helicoil vs insert? I have a bunch of inserts lying around but no helicoils or helicoil install tools.

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[NW_SKIER]

Got my first spinner today out of a dozen + mounts (mantra 102 of all skis).

Stuffed fiber glass and g flex in there and I'll see if it's snug when it dries, but if not is there a preference for helicoil vs insert? I have a bunch of inserts lying around but no helicoils or helicoil install tools.

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Helicoil maintains standard screw size and binding screw. Other than that, I don't see the advantage over using an insert if you already have it.

[Shorty_J]

Got my first spinner today out of a dozen + mounts (mantra 102 of all skis).

Stuffed fiber glass and g flex in there and I'll see if it's snug when it dries, but if not is there a preference for helicoil vs insert? I have a bunch of inserts lying around but no helicoils or helicoil install tools.

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There are little nylon inserts you can tap into a 5/16th or so hole. They are quick and cheap and they work well. I vaguely recall reading an article that they had higher pull-out strength than a screw on its own.

I think it makes sense to use epoxy with those since they have partially open sides.

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[Meadow Skipper]

There are little nylon inserts you can tap into a 5/16th or so hole. They are quick and cheap and they work well. I vaguely recall reading an article that they had higher pull-out strength than a screw on its own.

I think it makes sense to use epoxy with those since they have partially open sides.

https://www.tognar.com/plastic-ski-b...-hole-inserts/

[Shorty_J]

https://www.tognar.com/plastic-ski-b...-hole-inserts/

Those are the ones.

I stand corrected on the pull-out resistance.

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[MagnificentUnicorn]

I think everyone that mounts their own bindings should have a ski helicoil kit. They’re great for the occasional spinner or mounting tech toes that sometimes loosen. You can really crank the screw and they’re really impossible to strip. I put E3000/Goop in the hole before screwing in the coil. The coils are more solid than inserts, the threads expand when you drive the screw in.

I’ve taken to using Goop or E3000 to mount bindings, it is really sticky, strong, waterproof and remains flexible.


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[The Iron Horse]

Got my first spinner today out of a dozen + mounts (mantra 102 of all skis).

Stuffed fiber glass and g flex in there and I'll see if it's snug when it dries, but if not is there a preference for helicoil vs insert? I have a bunch of inserts lying around but no helicoils or helicoil install tools.

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I too had a spinner on a M102 last year. Hole simply kind of disintegrated.

I just drilled that one hole out for a BF insert and called it a day. Figured if I ever got bored I'd go back and replace the rest, which is actually going to happen here real soon now that I'm convinced of the mount point.

[halliday]

Got my first spinner today out of a dozen + mounts (mantra 102 of all skis).

Stuffed fiber glass and g flex in there and I'll see if it's snug when it dries, but if not is there a preference for helicoil vs insert? I have a bunch of inserts lying around but no helicoils or helicoil install tools.

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I re mounted a pair of skis the other day that had inserts that were solid and some that were stripped out. The mount is half inserts and half coils. I have rescue inserts but didn't want to waste them. Helicoils are cheap enough to always have a dozen or so in the tool box.

[axebiker]

I probably mount about 10 set a year, and more than I can count when I was in a shop back in the 90's. Never used epoxy. Always used "waterproof" wood glue, Titebond 4 these days. Never had a tear out in all these years. I did use Marine GOOP on some Rotte NTN's, but those screws SUCKED - their propensity to back out was legendary, and GOOP seemed to help, but I didn't really trust the waterproof claim, as I had some Volkls that ended up with some wood rot in the holes. Could be pilot error, but I doubt it, since I LOADED that stuff on. That said, I think the skis made back in the 80's, 90's and early 2K's were built better than what I see now.

But anyway, the nylon inserts any time I have a spinner. They're easy to use, and I've never had any issues with a recurrent tear out. They feel VERY solid. I'd get a helicoil kit, but I just don't see any advantage to them over the nylon inserts if they're installed properly.

[fleaches]

The fiberglass + g flex seems very solid today and is holding, I think I'll just leave it alone for now and reevaluate later in the season. I'm gonna go ahead and order some helicoil tools to have around for the future though.

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[XXX-er]

The fiberglass + g flex seems very solid today and is holding, I think I'll just leave it alone for now and reevaluate later in the season. I'm gonna go ahead and order some helicoil tools to have around for the future though.

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well there you go ^^ it will be fine, a few other TGR folk have also done it, I have a tele mount where the fix has been good for many years in spite of a T-1 / binding just being one big lever

I first tried this while mounting skis on a dark and stormy night, get a spinner and so what have i got lying around to fix it ? same with the BBQ skewer idea to fill old binding holes but it was much easier to have premptively bought shop bro a beer so when I asked for plugs he said what color ?