Rebedding Deck Hardware

[firecadet613]

I would like to get the groups consensus, as I'm rebedding hatches this off season. Pulling my hatches, horn, etc and coating the exposed coring with epoxy.

Once the two coats of epoxy over the coring has cured, I planning on bedding the fixtures and screws in LifeSeal (I've used BoatLife products for years to rebed screws, etc). Then it hit me, should I put some epoxy in the screw holes, then put the LifeSeal coated screws in?

Thoughts on this? Deck is bone dry and I'd like to keep it that way!

 

[techmitch]

Some holes may need some http://marinetex.com/ or the like to resize the holes so the correct attaching can be used and fully tightened.

 

[firecadet613]

Some holes may need some http://marinetex.com/ or the like to resize the holes so the correct attaching can be used and fully tightened.

Thanks, Mitch! So, overdrill the holes, fill with Marine-Tex, redrill and install screws?

 

[techmitch]

Thanks, Mitch! So, overdrill the holes, fill with Marine-Tex, redrill and install screws?

It may not be necessary but the best way to check is to test all of the holes with the correct hardware while the hatches are out and everything is removed and cleaned up. The hardware/marinetex part is even more important when rebedding other deck hardware such as cleats and rail stanchions as they receive a lot more and reoccurring lateral stress. This is a time when you don't want to rely on caulk/sealant/adhesive.

 

[Soulshine]

Epoxying the screws as part of this process is a good idea but not always deemed necessary.

What you don’t want to do is glue the screws in the holes. You or someone else may want to get them out one day.

That said epoxy in the screw holes hardens the wood around the threads providing increased holding power. It’s common practice to wax fasteners to keep the epoxy from sticking to them.

 

[firecadet613]

Epoxying the screws as part of this process is a good idea but not always deemed necessary.

What you don’t want to do is glue the screws in the holes. You or someone else may want to get them out one day.

That said epoxy in the screw holes hardens the wood around the threads providing increased holding power. It’s common practice to wax fasteners to keep the epoxy from sticking to them.

What's the best method for getting this done? Just putting epoxy in the screw holes, coating the screws with a paste wax then screwing them in?

 

[Soulshine]

Yes and yes.

Just get a good coat of wax on the screws and let it dry before driving them.

 

[firecadet613]

Yes and yes.

Just get a good coat of wax on the screws and let it dry before driving them.

This process worked perfectly on a test scrap of wood. Thanks!

 

[Soulshine]

You’re welcome.

Good luck with the rest of the project.