INSERTING SCREWS THROUGH SKIN

[DGW]

After some delay I am on the move again with my Shad. It is skinned with the 8 oz polyester from Jeff and is ready to be painted.

 

I want to insert screws for deck lines and to fix keel rubbing strips. I am anxious about the screws pulling threads as they go in. Do I just go straight ahead and drill pilot holes through the skin and into the gunwales and keel? Do I do this before or after painting? Do I first melt a little hole in the skin? I have tried easing the tight weave aside with a small screwdriver but this doesn't work well. Your advice is needed - can you help?

 

Cheers from Oz,

 

Denis

[Rich D]

I use a woodturning tool with a conical, but blunt, tip to burn a hold through the skin. Usually I do this after painting. I make the hold approximately the same size at the screw shank. 

[Kudzu]

You want it finished (painted) before you install anything.  Test it on scrap but once painted I have never had a problem just driving the screws in. If you are concerned melt a small hole using a small nail that has been heated up.

[DGW]

Many thanks for your advice Rich and Jeff. I now feel much more confident about getting on with the painting (although some paid work has just arrived that will keep me from doing any more for a few more days).

What happens when some of the warp and weft threads are cut - for example when I make 6 mm (about 1/4 inch) holes for the lift and carry toggles at each end of the kayak? I imagine the tensioned threads springing apart - perhaps because the threads are all glued together this doesn't happen?

 

Cheers,

 

Denis

[Kudzu]

Never cut one, I always burn the hole in.

[Rich D]

I drill my holes for the carry toggles in the frame prior to skinning. Then I burn holes in the skin with a woodturning tool. If I did not have my holes pre-drilled, I would burn a hole in the skin before drilling into the wood. The burned edges in the cloth will eliminate any chance of separation of the threads.