Newbie needs help

M

ML1985

Location
E Washington State
Hi

I have been lurking here and doing a ton of research on the footholds I'm about to stick into my 08 SJ. I am getting some conflicting information or maybe I'm just dumb so figured I'd throw a brand new foothold thread up like a real noob. I don't want my project to leak water and this is uncharted territory for me so please roast me lightly

I have a couple questions

-Do I need to completely sand off all of the factory paint/gelcoat in the tray area before I fiberglass these things in
-Is it paint or gelcoat from the factory? Can't tell
-I've read about glueing the footholds in with 5200 and then glassing. are there any advantages/disadvantages to this method?
-single layer of glass on the edges of the footholds or a couple? was planning on using cabosil filler along the edges and then glassing over that

Appreciate the time and knowledge

ML
 
Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
Right angle grinder with a sanding disk will make quick work of the gelcoat/paint. Use thickened epoxy and screw/rivet to secure the footholds to the tray. Lay 1-2 layers of glass cloth around the edges. Lay 1-2 layers of biax or a few layers of cloth on the bottom of the tray going into the footholds and all the way across to strengthen it up. Try to do everything at one time so you get a really good chemical bond.
 
Sanoman

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
Yes, always sand down the entire area. Also, sand the whole tray, so you won’t have to do it later. Having said that, l also like to cover up any area you don’t want epoxy and then have to re-sand later. Masking tape and a couple layers of newspaper for that.

Thickened epoxy as Rosie mentioned is made with Cabisil and mixed epoxy. Lots of threads on here that will help you. Learn to stay off of FB asking “how to”

Make it easy on yourself.
 
WFO Speedracer

WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
Epoxy will stick to almost anything but on footholds you want the best bond possible which means remove all the paint and scratch up the area you are bonding to , the last thing you want is leaking footholds making a waterlogged mess out of your foam under the tray.

The SN I am working on had sloppily put in footholds on it , I ended up slicing the tray open and digging out about 30lbs of nasty wet foam, I am not a foothold guy so I pulled them out , sold them , refoamed the holes up and glassed them back over , one hell of a mess.
 
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M

ML1985

Location
E Washington State
Appreciate the advice guys. I'm about half sanded out so on the right track. Once I get everything glassed in I was thinking of hitting it with a roll on black epoxy paint of some sort just to protect everything under the turf, not sure if that matters much or not. From what I've been reading some guys do and some guys don't

ML
 
Sanoman

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
Big Kahuna said:

How to install footholds

Foothold compendium - Installation, selection, comparisons, etc. This section will relate to footholds, and contain links to the information to educate those who are unfamiliar with the art and science of Pedes retineo (foothold) (L)
www.x-h2o.com
Click to expand...
WFO Speedracer said:
Epoxy will stick to almost anything but on footholds you want the best bond possible which means remove all the paint and scratch up the area you are bonding to , the last thing you want is leaking footholds making a waterlogged mess out of your foam under the tray.

The SN I am working on had sloppily put in footholds on it , I ended up slicing the tray open and digging out about 30lbs of nasty wet foam, I am not a foothold guy so I pulled them out , sold them , refoamed the holes up and glassed them back over , one hell of a mess.
Click to expand...
And if it’s been wet for some time, it has that rotten smell to it. And it in your face the entire time you clean it out. lol
 
WFO Speedracer

WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
Yep an empty section of yard that you can mess up and a pressure washer with a 0 degree tip is your best friend also maybe a raincoat and goggles lol
 
M

ML1985

Location
E Washington State
Well I got the footholds cut out and low and behold


Water. looks like I get to learn to refoam, might as well throw a tube in there for the ol dual cool as well. I was hoping I could get away with it as this was a pretty fresh unmolested ski when I picked it up. yay
 
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