annageek
Well-Known Member
Many of the press studs on our boat have decided to detach themselves from the windscreen/GRP to which the tonneau cover would normally attach. All of them have been pop-riveted to the boat, and in some cases, I think aluminium pop-rivets may have been used as a repair by previous owners (so no surprise that they are no longer attached!).
Anyway, I intend to go around and replace them all, as even the ones that are still attached are probably on borrowed time. Rather than rivet, I am intending to use screws all around - probably filling the holes with epoxy putty first before re-drilling to give them the best chance of staying put in the future. So, some questions:
1. Is it worth using stainless press studs over nickel plated brass? I've read that they're often nickel plated brass, even for outdoor marine applications - this just seems odd, as even a small amount of corrosion will seriously affect the function of these things, or do I have this wrong?
2. The windscreen is aluminium, if stainless press stud male parts are used (with stainless fasteners), is that OK? Or will it eventually corrode away the windscreen frame? (I can understand alu fasteners in a SS frame is not a good idea, but imagine the other way around would be have minimal problems?)
3. If I do end up using up ni-brass male stud parts (as I already have loads of them left over from something else), then would it be OK to use stainless female parts on the canvas cover? It's just that a couple of repairs I have made (using the nickel plated brass female parts) have shown signs of distorting a bit due to the malleability of the brass - I expect stainless would help with this.
4. Whatever I end up using, is it worth lubricating these things with anything when in normal service to prevent them stiffening up and subsequently putting excessive loading on the fastenings when they are popped off? Would applying a smear of grease of some type (which type?) promote the 'caking-up' of salt crystals, and begin to jam up the press studs' springs?
I really want this to be a 'do it once and do it right' job, as I'm fed up with these things pulling off whenever we remove the cover, so any advise is greatly appreciated!
Anyway, I intend to go around and replace them all, as even the ones that are still attached are probably on borrowed time. Rather than rivet, I am intending to use screws all around - probably filling the holes with epoxy putty first before re-drilling to give them the best chance of staying put in the future. So, some questions:
1. Is it worth using stainless press studs over nickel plated brass? I've read that they're often nickel plated brass, even for outdoor marine applications - this just seems odd, as even a small amount of corrosion will seriously affect the function of these things, or do I have this wrong?
2. The windscreen is aluminium, if stainless press stud male parts are used (with stainless fasteners), is that OK? Or will it eventually corrode away the windscreen frame? (I can understand alu fasteners in a SS frame is not a good idea, but imagine the other way around would be have minimal problems?)
3. If I do end up using up ni-brass male stud parts (as I already have loads of them left over from something else), then would it be OK to use stainless female parts on the canvas cover? It's just that a couple of repairs I have made (using the nickel plated brass female parts) have shown signs of distorting a bit due to the malleability of the brass - I expect stainless would help with this.
4. Whatever I end up using, is it worth lubricating these things with anything when in normal service to prevent them stiffening up and subsequently putting excessive loading on the fastenings when they are popped off? Would applying a smear of grease of some type (which type?) promote the 'caking-up' of salt crystals, and begin to jam up the press studs' springs?
I really want this to be a 'do it once and do it right' job, as I'm fed up with these things pulling off whenever we remove the cover, so any advise is greatly appreciated!
