1-2-3 Layup!

[dude11]

Well it appears I need to learn the "quick step"!!Laying up the ole transom today-and everything was mixed as instuctions-Goto move quick! 2oz.csm is awful thick stuff,never had a problem with 1.5oz.lays up nice-But this 2 oz.different altogether.I'm using poly resin(non-wax)--is there a step I missed?? I can only guess the deck will go down in many pieces.I enjoy the game-but this wayyy past fun.Sorry---had to vent a tad.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

Not sure exactly how you are doing it (area, mix, temperature, sunlight...), but if you are not already doing it -- mix less and do smaller areas at a time. You can also go lighter on the hardener.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

What brand and type of resin? Some are thicker than others, IE harder to wet out cloth with.

How are you doing the wet-out? For anything large I'd use a paint roller with a short nap.

Erik

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

PAint roller with the pan will slow the resin down by spreading it out rather than keeping it in mixing pail. Stay within resin/catalyst ratios and out of the sun. Keep the resin cool. Yeh you gotta have your ducks in a row and go fast.

Apply a coat of unwaxed resin to the wood first , it will soak in.

Mix another batch, wet the wood out, apply the glass and wet out,
and start mixing the next batch if you're going with more layers..otherwise roll the bubbles out with the metal roller.

Pre measure out your batches and catalyst before getting started.
Takes no time to mix as you go along if its all set ready to go.
A covered pail of acetone for the tools, tool goes into the acetone before you mix the next batch. A cheap 4 inch brush can help for the corners.

 

[redfury]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

Make sure all your containers open with a simple twist if you are at the end of one container of resin and have to open the other. ( trust me, had to run and get a pair of pliers to open a stuck lid. )

 

[dude11]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

Thax guys for the advice and moral support.It's like 94deg.here so the heat is on.I'm just not used to the thickness of 2 oz.csm,tough to wet out.Course I was trying to roll the edges on the transom so as to seal it up with one piece of mat--not happening--had to cut back and overlap,turned out pretty good though.I think a piece of cloth would be more forgiving,CSM--not so much.That stuff will come apart on you if not handled carefully.I'm just worried about wetting and laying up the deck( it's a 14ft'er).Just for the record--do most of you lay up that large of an area OR do you cut it down to three or more sections??I myself will have to do the latter,just too much fast work for an old man.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

Just work at your own pace, whatever is comfortable for you will make good results. Theres no sense comparing yourself, but flat areas are inherently easier than vertical work. Mix it and pour it out then spread with your roller.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

Hello Dude...

Again..Resin is NOT all the same !!

Your pot life is not the same..your working time is not the same from resin to resin.. ( as I have explained in previous postings ).

Real Life now.. I have resin ( LVOC ) that gives me Alot more working time.. LVOC VE. resin gives me more without the "burning of eyes and hands..and basically burning of everything compaired to simple lam resin ).

I moved from Fl to AZ to help my mom move to make her dream house.. but we only had a 5th wheel to live in before the pumphouse or structure went up.. the floor of the fiberglass shower was cracked beyond simple repair ( just needed to get by ). So I called up the locals and got a gal of Poly resin..and glass. I mixed it up..and BANG within 180 seconds gelled and smoked off in the pot ( crap resin ).

If your going to do a resto...BUY quality !!

I also suggest you get an MEKP squeeze bottle ( just dont knife that tube and squirt 1/4 etc into the mix ). .. .. 5 bucks.. Get It if your doing a resto..

Good luck m8..

YD.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

agreed on buying good resin...or at least resin that you have allready used and know what to expect.

as far as how much do you do at a time.....it is bad practice to mix up a gigantic batch and go to town....

if you get stuck in an area where the cloth folds or other mess up...you have no time to work out the air out of the rest of the deck.

just mix up your paint tray full....do that section....and then mix some more.....and so on....do only what you can reach at one time.....

remember you can do multliple layers at once...

when i do a deck....i lay 2 layers of csm and the 6 oz finishing veil at at the same time. i just dont let the previous section gell or start to cure before i am mixed and on the next section

 

[redfury]

Re: 1-2-3 Layup!

The important thing is to prepare and prep properly before you start any fiberglass work. Once you start, you don't stop unless you botch the job...or you will botch the job.

Make sure you have everything ready. Gloves, respirator, mixing cups, bubble buster ( roller ), chip brushes, acetone, rags, eye protection, all the resin you'll need and a little extra just in case...and make sure the caps have been opened...if you need more and the cap is stuck and you don't have a way to get it open, you are going to be scrambling and botching the job up ( not that something like that has ever happened to me...I'm just sayin' )

Make sure you have gone through a dry run of what you are going to do so that you don't get confused if something happens that throws your game out of whack ( like a dumped container of resin ).

Doing the deck is just A LOT of glasswork ALL AT ONCE, but the process is the same as everything you've done before. Eat that elephant one bite at a time, and before you know it, you'll be staring at this...