Can I mount bindings more than once?

[brunoschull]

Hi,

I posted this question in the general Ski and Snowboard area and got completely flamed. Oh well, live and learn. In the hope that somebody might take pity on me, here is my question again in the tech area (Check out my original post for a laugh).

I just bought some skis. I was hoping that they would come with no bindings, because I bought a pair of bindings, however, they came with some really cheap slide-mounted bindings. Can I remove the cheap stock binding and install my own bindings (I would have a ski shop do this). Or will the extra holes from the old bindings weaken the ski? I'm not a super-aggressive skier, but I do weight about 90 kg. I don't want to have to worry about the strength of the skis...it's frustrating, because the skis I bought were advertised as "flat" skis with no bindings installed.

Your advice would be appreciated, all the best, Bruno

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Hi, post for a laugh).
they came with some really cheap slide-mounted bindings.

Sounds like you bought two snowboards.

[bornincolorado]

did you notice in the flames that ppl answered your question, told you to search and you still don't get it?

you are a JONG

[brunoschull]

Hi All,

Ha, Ha, Ha. I've seen this so many times in the climbing forums that I usually visit. Beginner or new visitor to forum asks questions, all the old regulars jump in and flame away cause it makes them feel superior or just makes then laugh (and laughs are good!) and beginner either a) slinks away in shame or b) posts various self-righteous defenses, which are usually the most fun to read, in addition to the subsequent and inevitable flames.

I'm probably somewhere in between there...about ready to say, fuck it, I wont learn anything on this site, and look elsewhere, or try to defend myself.

So I try one more time...

In fact, as incredible as it may seem, I did search this site for answers to my questions. First I put the title of this post 'Can I mount bindings more than once" and then I tried just "mounting bindings." Neither search yielded a clear, informative answer, just pages and pages of somewhat related by irrelevant discussions.

So, I committed the great sin, and started my own post.

If there is anybody out there who actually feels like answering the question, I would really appreciate it. And to the rest, I invite you to quote parts of my mail, generally mock my ignorance, add creative pictures for laughs, and so on. After all, that's the fun or forums, right?

All the best, Bruno

[arild]

It will be fine, and it will not weaken your skis. Some of the holes might even be reusable, depending on the bindings mounted on the skis you got, and the bindings you bought separately. Model names for both would be nice, as someone will be able to answer your query. Naked pictures of GF very welcome.

FWIW, "multiple mounts" would have yielded a few results, very relevant to your question at hand.

[arild]

Learning to do it yourself is fun, by the way. Practice on a couple of 2x4s, using the binding mount templates found in this forum.

[JayPowHound]

^^ This.

A general rule of thumb is that most skis can handle up to three mounts as long as the holes are at least 1cm apart.

Good luck, and welcome to TGR jong!

[endure]

First I put the title of this post 'Can I mount bindings more than once"

you suck at the internet

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ou-mount-a-ski

[Rasputin]

I'm wondering what is meant by "slide mounted bindings". It almost sounds like they are one of the system bindings with a track they slide into, if that was the case "flat" would have been a misnomer, but flat commonly means that they don't have any tracks or mounting plates, but rather the mounting area is just a flat area of top sheet to drill into.

Flat never means that they haven't been drilled JONG!

Oh, and what JayPH said too.

[Garth Bimble]

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what skis did you buy and what bindings came with them? Just because they are "slide mounted" as you say doesn't necessarily mean they are cheap.

[TahoeJ]

They'll be fine, just makes sure the old holes are properly plugged... which any decent ski shop will do.

[brunoschull]

Thanks for the ongoing answers. I bought a pair of Atomic Blackeye Ti 181 cm skis. The skis are mounted with plastic tracks which fit the bindings. The bindings came in a separate box and it looks like they will just slide onto the tracks on the skis. The bindings are the Atomic XTO 12. They certainly don't appear to be high-quality bindings, for example, the finish on the parts, the cheap plastic covers, the general quality, and so on. The bindings which I bought, that I hoped to mount on the skis, are Salomon STH 12 Oversize bindings. Now, there may be little difference between the Atomic and Salomon bindings, but I wantes to but the Salomon bindings on because they have a slightly wider mounting holes (I think) and they don't have any tracks of rails, which will allow me to get my foot closer to the ski. I do know that some racers want to lift their feet away from the ski, but I want something simple and secure. So those are the skis and the two sets of bindings. What I seem to be hearing from these posts is that it should work: I can have a ski shop strip off the mounting rails which are on the skis, fill in the holes, and mount the new bindings...sound OK? Many thanks again. Bruno

[arild]

Personally, I wouldn´t bother. That "wider" mounting pattern means practically fuck-all on this skinny a ski, and you´d probably do better by keeping them where they are, and save the STH12s for another, wider, pair. The plate can definitely have a stiffening attribute to the ski, and you might fuck up the flex pattern if you were to take it off.


Good luck.

[Wunderkind]

That track is layed into the ski, you can't take it off and you can't switch bindings. The binders that came on your skis are PLENTY fine for your needs.

I think you're a troll, btw.

[brunoschull]

Wow--the tracks are part of the ski. I had no idea. How sure are you about that? I believe you but I just want to be positive. I think I will follow the advice of the last two posters, and just keep the stock bindings and skis as a set...I guess that means I have to buy a new pair of skis to fit my oversize bindings...ha, ha, it is an expensive sport. And no, I'm not a troll, although I think it's funny that I found an amusing definition of JONG (see my original post in the ski and snowboard forum which got wonderfully flamed). I guess that's my contribution to TGR...a new definition of JONG. Thanks again, Bruno.

[cpj.slc]

Agreed that the binding that came with the skis would be fine, but in the case of just wanting what you want, as stated several times above there should be no issue with a remount.

[brunoschull]

OK, now I am confused...Wunderkind and Shane's answers seem to give conflicting information.

Can I pull the binding mounting tracks off the Atomic Blackeye Ti skis or are they fixed onto the ski?

The mounting tracks appear to be screwed on, there does not seem to be any top sheet lap up over the tracks, and so on...but who knows what lies beneath?

Anybody have experience with these actual skis and bindings?

Thanks, Bruno

[marshalolson]

atomic xto 12 = salomon z12

just use the stock bindings. they are basically the same binding you bought.

otherwise, unscrew the stock bindings, and screw the STH bindings onto the mounting plate that is semi-integrated into the ski.

[hutash]

All bindings are single use then they need to be thrown away.

Or, you could just take them to a ski shop and ask, since they will be doing the work any way. God forbid anybody puts an electric drill in your hands.

[skimaxpower]

OMG. Nearly all the advice you got here is wrong because no one did any research on your skis (including you.) Wunderkind, however, is correct.

This general style of bindings are called "system bindings." They come with the ski, and they only work with the ski in question. They are perfectly good bindings for what these skis were designed for.

Please go to a ski shop, and ask them to mount your skis and test the bindings. It should not cost more than $30. Bring your boots, and if you bring a 22oz micro brew, the shop tech will be your friend and wax them for you as well.

[skimaxpower]

atomic xto 12 = salomon z12

just use the stock bindings. they are basically the same binding you bought.

otherwise, unscrew the stock bindings, and screw the STH bindings onto the mounting plate that is semi-integrated into the ski.

Unless I'm mistaken ... STH=wormscrew. Z12=tab.

Not to mention, that would be a waste of perfectly good pair of STH.

[el penoso]

You might be happier over at epic ski. They ask/answer all the beginner queries. Over here its how you ask the question that matters. Or you can stay and keep posting god knows we need the entertainment in these dry months.

[The Duke of Hurl]

FWIW, "multiple mounts" would have yielded a few results, very relevant to your question at hand.

And many results not relevant to your question at hand, NTTIAWWT.

[Skinut289]

That is a system binding not a flat mount. Some systems can be removed.

That being said the skis and bindings are sold as a package for a reason; they are of equivalent "level" ie. intermediate ski intermediate binding. If you are concerned the binding is not enough for you the ski is probably not enough for you.

If you would like so swap to a flat mount binding it will stiffen the ski. The reason for a system binding is that is is free to slide back and forth on the rails allowing the ski to flex under the binding. When you flat mount a ski it creates a dead spot in the ski spanning the the front most screws on the toe the rear most screws in the heal.

To answer your question, you can mount a ski as many times as you want. Just obey the centimeter rule (leave at least one centimeter between holes), and make sure the old holes are plugged well. You will find however that after 2 or 3 mounts you will run out of room on the ski.

The only way to tell if you can remove the system on your skis is to try to remove it. Take the screws off and see if it comes off. If it is integrated into the ski put some wood glue on the screws and put them back in (be careful not to over-tighten)

To those skeptics I am a ski tech and have mounted thousands of skis.

[Alaskan Rover]

Ok...a "no flame" answer;

Yes....you can mount your bindings on as many different pairs of skis as you want.

Ok...maybe that was just a little flame.

Serious answer: Depends on what type of skis they are, really. Different cores involved, different topsheets (although the topsheet doesn't add as much holding power to the screw as the core material, but it does add some).

The shop will plug the old holes and move the new bindings to such a place where they are at least a few mm away from the plugged holes. Or like someone said, some of the holes might be re-used.

Skis can take re-binding a few times with no strength problems...but more than three times (three sets of various holes, excluding re-used holes) and you will start affecting the integrity of that mid-section of ski. I've broken skis in half because of that weakening affect...and they broke right at the plugged holes....but that particular pair of Elans RC-08s's had had about five different people's bindings on them and finally said fuck you...plus they WERE Elans (not a ski I'd call immensely well-made).

But one extra set of holes combined with you not skiing very aggresively, won't even affect your skis in any definable way.
Just make sure the ski shop doesn't have some new kid put the new holes too close to the old holes...that would be a fuck-up.

EDIT: Ok....now I've gotten off my ass and read through the thread. YES....those look like "system bindings"...so you are fucked. Wait...that was someone else's pic. So what type of skis are they...the same Atomics that someone else pasted up? You're still fucked. But if you want to do some screwing around: even if that system doesn't come off...you can try grinding the damn thing off with an angle grinder (grind totally flush to topsheet), then using high-quality epoxy, cover up any exposed metal. You should then be able to mount your own bindings as normal. But be aware, by grinding off that part of the "system" you may be affecting the integrity...depends if those "rails" become integral with the core at a certain point.

But what I don't understand is that if you don't ski aggresively, why do you need some other binding than what's on there? I'd just keep them on and return or sell your other bindings.

EDIT 2: I had a friend call who just happens to have Atomics very similar to those...That's an integrated system...that particular system won't come off...and you don't want to grind it off, because the the system rails/whatever become integral to the core...you'll screw up the stiffness and shock loading.

Don't fix what ain't broke, as they say.
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