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Mounting my own skis myself

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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i got some free trouble makers and i just bought some salomon bindings for 25$.. im a cheap fuck and i dont want to pay to get them mounted cuz im just gunna use them in my back yard and one water ramps this summer. can i just put the bindings down with no screw in and drill the holes? does it really matter if theyre not aligned perfectly? and does anyone know what size bit to use?
Jun 18 2006 2:36PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i dont feel like paying 20$ to mount skis that are never going to even touch snow
Jun 18 2006 2:45PM
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JibEarth
Posts: 753 - Karma: 26
i really suggest u get htem mounted by a pro u wil probably regret it and come on man its just 20 bucks should be even less
Jun 18 2006 2:50PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,814
you cannot do it without the proper drill bits. even for just messing around in your back yard, your bindings will rip out. With the proper bits, it's very simple. But i'd take it to the shop if I were you.
Jun 18 2006 2:58PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
dude, you sound like your a bit uneducated on it, but it is easy as pie. i mount all my skis by hand, without jigs.

what you do, line up the centers on the ski, and measure out your hole spacing for the bindings. take your time, and measure precisely. check for square on everything, etc. test fit the bindings by aligning the holes and shit, and if all looks good, centerpunch the holes. get a dit thats the size of the screw body (not the threads), and mark off the exact drill depth with tape or somethin, and drill away. toss some epoxy or wood glue in there, and tighten stuff down. do not over torque anything!!! anyway, there yah go! all done. then you just gotta adjust for forward pressure and such.
Jun 18 2006 3:01PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
hm.. the only place still open around me is 20$
Jun 18 2006 3:02PM
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BennyB
Posts: 2800 - Karma: 62
i mount my own skis, its not that hard...go for it.
Jun 18 2006 3:22PM
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Calrin
Posts: 3096 - Karma: 561
ive done it many times. usually everything is a little off but it still works fine. go for it.
Jun 18 2006 3:24PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
what size bit did u use? .. should i use one alittle smaller than the screws?
Jun 18 2006 3:30PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
I work in shops but would still pay to have mine mounted properly rather than try it myself without the right equipment. I managed to persuade a rental shop to let me borrow their bench and gear last week to remount some old skis, so if you know how to use jigs/etc and get a good story, that would be worth a shot.

If you insist on doing it yourself, follow what the guy above said. Get your bindings squared properly - check there is equal space on each side at the front and back of each of the toe and heel. Get a 3.5mm drill bit and mark a 9mm dpth on it somehow, then mark through the bindings lightly for position and drill the ski with the binding off the ski - you need to get it very straight (vertical) for minimal risks of ripping out. Epoxy? Maybe it's a good idea in this case - it'll be hard to remove the bindings if you ever want to but will keep the binding on there. Getting the binding in the right position on the ski would be that hard part really. What binding and boot sole length is it? I could try to make you a rough paper jig if you want, which would help for toe/heel spacing at least.

Alternative: epoxy the binding stright to the ski. A guy at my old shop said they did it for a guy for a big mountain comp and it held!
Jun 18 2006 3:44PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
they are some salomons with 28.5 salomon 1080 boots
Jun 18 2006 4:04PM
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OpIvy
Posts: 741 - Karma: 9
This guys got it right, thats how I did it. Just be careful, if you mark the depth on the bit with tape, the tape may slide if you aren't careful. So just go slow and always recheck your depth on each hole.
Jun 18 2006 4:05PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
sounds good ill try it tomorrow
Jun 18 2006 4:51PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Check the boot sole length and I'll make you a paper jig tomorrow. 325mm?
Jun 18 2006 4:54PM
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mavric1298
Posts: 561 - Karma: 55
i wonder how long they will hold....use wood glue not epoxy if you ever want to get the bindings off
Jun 18 2006 6:04PM
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mattster
Posts: 4120 - Karma: 41
ITS A TRAP ! DON'T DO IT !!!
Jun 18 2006 6:08PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
mine lasted all season, broke the nose of the ski before rippin the bindings out. epoxy is a bitch to get out, but they arnt impossible. if anything, you can just drill out the screws. but for what your talkin bout doin, wood glue should be fine
Jun 18 2006 6:08PM
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invader7
Posts: 5756 - Karma: 49
if u let the shop do it it will prolly be cheaper after u fuck it up if u do that is
Jun 18 2006 7:02PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i just dont feel like paying money.. im poor, uhh i dont know where i look for my boot sole lenght
Jun 18 2006 10:10PM
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Calrin
Posts: 3096 - Karma: 561
yeah drill holes smaller than the screw. i have gone all the way through before, so watch out for that.
Jun 18 2006 10:12PM
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Calrin
Posts: 3096 - Karma: 561
what i do is to stick a nail in the hole of the binding and tap it with a hammer making an indent. then drill that out.
Jun 18 2006 10:13PM
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d.spong
Posts: 909 - Karma: 8
i mounted a pair this year, takes awhile, just be patient and dont strip the holes
Jun 18 2006 11:10PM
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mammothpunks
Posts: 5724 - Karma: 372
why dont you look at your boot sole? its printed right on there in little numbers.
Jun 18 2006 11:43PM
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fakie_jibber
Posts: 341 - Karma: 10
U don't wanna know what I think about a guy who doesn't even know what bits to use to drill TM's... but that's not the point I guess.... anyways... the glue you'll use before drilling the screws into the holes is not to hold the screws to the ski, but to lub them up (so they don't strip the core) and also to make it air and water tight, so no water can get in and fuck up your mount.... goodluck with that, but for you, I think the 20$ going to the shop should be worth it... you could always ask them to show you how, that way you could do it the next time...
Jun 19 2006 10:04AM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
go to the shop....
Jun 19 2006 10:50AM
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skifreak_101
Posts: 161 - Karma: 10
definetly go to the shop and pay the freaking $25 u r gunna regret it when u pop out on the woter ramp
Jun 19 2006 10:59AM
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JayB
Posts: 107 - Karma: 38
Do-it-yourself guide here:

http://www.forskiers.com/articles/8.asp
Jun 19 2006 11:28AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Oh dear LORD, please don't.
Jun 19 2006 12:01PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Do yourself a favour and pay a shop to do it, please.
Jun 19 2006 2:26PM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
don't risk ruining the skis over a little pocket change.
Jun 19 2006 6:43PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
yeah, while mounting skis yourself isnt that hard, like i said, you sound pretty inexpierenced with this stuff. so yeah, id say pay the shop, or at least practice with a pair of junk skis first
Jun 19 2006 6:48PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
wtf.. i cant see it cuz my boots are mad worn out.. dont hate
Jun 19 2006 8:00PM
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nilzlet
Posts: 1892 - Karma: 16
i could be mistaken, but i think you need to use some sorta glue stuff to keep the water out.
Jun 19 2006 8:00PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
im gunna put some epoxy in the holes
Jun 19 2006 8:04PM
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ag.
Posts: 694 - Karma: 18
ya man if you dont make a very good pattern ur fucked
Jun 19 2006 8:12PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i went to the shop and its 45$ to get them mounted.. there arent any other shops open any where near me in the summer either
Jun 20 2006 2:40PM
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Calrin
Posts: 3096 - Karma: 561
you guys all must not have done it, cause its really not hard.
Jun 20 2006 3:18PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i have like one more question.. then im gunna do it. the skis i have were mounted once already, how close can i be to the old holes and not have to worry about anything?
Jun 20 2006 3:20PM
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JBrown
Posts: 30 - Karma: 108
you got them for free so id say do it its not hard and whatever happens happens but if the holes are really close i dont know how well it will work but make sure you fill those other holes
Jun 20 2006 7:27PM
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B.L.A.K.E
Posts: 932 - Karma: 27
USE WOOD GLUE, NO EPOXY, you will never get you bindings off unless you use the right kinda which you have to heat up before unscrewing, wood glue works just as good.
Jun 20 2006 8:18PM
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Pman13a
Posts: 3800 - Karma: 452
dude its 20 bucks just take it to the shop, why risk it
Jun 20 2006 8:22PM
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OpIvy
Posts: 741 - Karma: 9
meh, its not too big of a deal if he does. He said he is only using them for summer stuff, so a little hole in the base won't hurt much.
Jun 20 2006 8:28PM
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Orygunski
Posts: 176 - Karma: 10
Hey JayB, Good link
Jun 20 2006 8:59PM
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tuckeredoutfilms
Posts: 665 - Karma: 41
you can wrap some tape around the drill bit at the right depth to insure that the holes are the same
Jun 20 2006 9:04PM
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KillerMonkey
Posts: 6436 - Karma: 109
I mounted my urban skis myself and I have to say they work just as well as the ones I payed 25$ to get mounted. I pretty much measured everything, squared it, used a drill press to sink it and screwed em in. I used a marker pen to mark evrything and to put through the screw holes to mark it. I just made sure everything was even and the same. You just have to be really precise and make sure you double check everything.
Jun 20 2006 9:41PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i found a friend who had an old salomon jig and used that and everything worked out great. it isnt really that hard to do, that website someone posted is really good! thanks everyone who wasnt gay
Jun 20 2006 10:31PM
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potatofarmer
Posts: 2020 - Karma: 13
you could do it. but its much easier just to fork over the money
Jun 21 2006 11:11AM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
i did it.. and it was easy. the shop wanted 45$ to mount them
Jun 21 2006 12:56PM
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