DGW Posted February 26, 2018 Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich D Posted February 26, 2018 Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted February 26, 2018 Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted February 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Never cut one, I always burn the hole in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich D Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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