fitting titan bimini please help!

[guyhawk]

I'm fittig the ameritex over the top bimini to our 220/titan tower at the weekend and really don't want to get it wrong, has anybody else fitted one and got any tips, it seems fairly straight forward but do i need to use special drill bits with it being a stainless tower and is there an easy way to getting the snap rivets lined up right, any idea's would be appreciated.

[MHayes]

Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

....with it being a stainless tower....

Are you sure about that? I thought that they were aluminum.

[MHayes]

RE: Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

I stand corrected.....yes, it is stainless. You should be fine with a regular (i.e. made for steel) drill bit, just take your time. I would start with a pilot hole before going to the larger bit and add a little lubricating oil, that way you do not heat up the metal too much and cause discoloration. Also, I'd put a piece of tape on the area that you are drilling and probably use a punch to get a good start where the bit won't slide away. Oh yeah, and measure twice, drill once!!

[guyhawk]

RE: Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

Thanks MHayes might give it a go later today if it stops raining!! will let you know how it goes.

[Chad52]

RE: Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

Drill slowly, don't try to run your drill fast. And use some sort of cutting lube, like WD-40. Drilling into SS can be a pain. I ended up using velcro with only the lower ends using the snaps on my Titan Tower.

[saceone]

RE: Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

use a punch!!

[Latonkaboarder]

RE: Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

I used a punch on mine. I started with the snaps closest to the center of the tower and worked my way to the sides. Drilling one hole at a time on one side then drilling the exact location on the other side. I installed a snap after each hole drilled and snapped the bimini each time to make sure everything was lining up and that the bimini was snug. I didn't using any penetrating oil. I just used sharp drill bits and drilled slow (three bits to do the hole tower). The only problem I ran into was getting the snaps tight so they wouldn't rattle. I ended up putting little washers inbetween the rivet gun and the button to get the rivet to grab tight (The washers fall out when the rivet breaks off). You'll understand when you start the install. I marked the holes first with a sharpie then used the punch, then drill.

[guyhawk]

RE: Re: fitting titan bimini please help!

Thanks for everyones help, used a punch lots of oil and drilled slow, took about 6 hours, latonkaboarder i see what you mean about the rivets, i got through 3 0f them before i worked out what you where on about, will post some pictures when i remember the camera, Thanks again