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Bore and TAP metal topsheets, titanium, titanol, aluminum question

#1
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11/20/09 at 9:54pm
  • Joined: October 2007
  • Location: Tahoe
  • Post Count: 2,370
I've always just drilled the holes.one size for fiberglass, I for metal top sheets.  I saw a metal tap for the coarse thread used with binding screws. Is it worth $25 and the bother ?
seems like a good idea to me even after doing it the other way for so long.
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#2
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11/21/09 at 7:19am
  • Joined: March 2004
  • Location: Virginia
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 You can get a tap for less than $25, and yes, it's a good idea.  PM 4cznskier, he may have some for sale for cheap.

What the tap does is eliminate the possibility of the screw pulling/separating the metal layers or blistering/puckering the topsheet when threading in.  By cutting the threads with a tap rather than "swaging" them with the screw, you get a much cleaner hole.  A big bonus, to me, is that you can very easily gauge the tightening torque when putting the screws in.  They go in very smooth (with a little glue to lube the threads) and gently snug up against the "stop" point (which I follow with a brief 1/16 to 1/8 turn to fully snug them, and then walk away).  When you don't tap threads, you know it's a bit of a bear to drive the screws in, and you lose a lot of touch/finesse as far as torquing down, when to stop, etc.

I even tap skis without metal layers, because I prefer the overall experience.  I really like the increase in control, and think it results in a cleaner, nicer mount.
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#3
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11/21/09 at 6:47pm
  • Joined: October 2007
  • Location: Tahoe
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thanks, that sounds right to me. I'll do it that way.
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