1992 Astro Restoration

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

I'm using polyester resin (unwaxed) so that part isn't a problem. Cure time is easy with poly by controling the amount of MEKP you add. But I may just go ahead and laminate while the fillet is still a little tacky, as you suggested, just curious if it would be a problem if I waited a couple days.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

I agree with glassing the trans in first..let cure..then quick prep..dry fit everything again..then glass the rest.

It may not be factory..but its IMO the Right way to do it. ( more steps that the factory couldnt afford ? ).

If you want perfect fillets then tape where you want the fillet to be..then fill and "spoon" ..peel the tape and juuust before it kicks off resin coat it..then glass when its still wet but after the heat cycle ..

Hope Im explaining well enough .

YD.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

Yatch Dr. you explained everything but what's a "heat cycle"?

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

I agree with glassing the trans in first..let cure..then quick prep..dry fit everything again..then glass the rest.

It may not be factory..but its IMO the Right way to do it. ( more steps that the factory couldnt afford ? ).

If you want perfect fillets then tape where you want the fillet to be..then fill and "spoon" ..peel the tape and juuust before it kicks off resin coat it..then glass when its still wet but after the heat cycle ..

Hope Im explaining well enough .

YD.

Yep understand completly, thanks

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

Yatch Dr. you explained everything but what's a "heat cycle"?

A heat cycle is the bike Micky Rourke had in " Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man ".. .

Its when thicker resin materials start to cure and gernerate there heat and cure cycles..

More mass of the resin ( like in a fillet ) the more Heat its going to generate during its curing process.

You dont want to do a large fillet and then start to glass over that before its completed its heat cycle or you will have a situation where it gets Way too hot in those corners ( A BIG NO NO ) becoming too brittle.

And another is when your laying up and those corners start to heat up..you have litterally NO time to wet and roll those inside radia and corners ( basically your new lams will almost instantly cure off before you can roll out ).

Big mess laying up on fillets before its time .

YD.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

You dont want to do a large fillet and then start to glass over that before its completed its heat cycle or you will have a situation where it gets Way too hot in those corners ( A BIG NO NO ) becoming too brittle.

.

YD.

I've had it get so hot it blistered the exterior finish (in hot weather), before I learned to control things a bit better. I'll just let the fillets cure out till cold but still a little tacky.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

Had a friend of mine bring me a half gallon jug of some stuff call Laminex by 3M. He said it was better and eaiser than making your own peanut butter for fillets and he said it uses the same MEKP as the polyester resin. (He works for a place that makes fiberglass tubs). He swears by it. Is this stuff any good?

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80816605.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=Google

It's sold in marine stores...dunno if it's worth anything though. The specs say, "3M Laminex Fairing is a lightweight, semi-flexible polyester compound, excellent for fairingsmoothing applications in either repair or prototype applications. "

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

They must make two products called Laminex, this one I have Label says Laminex Fillets. I googled it too (should have done that already). Write up is good, but always is from a product maker, was wondering if anyone has actually used it.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

I wouldnt use the Fairing compound..

But if your talking this stuff..

http://www.merrittsupply.com/3M-Laminex-Fillet-Putty-5-Gallon-PN-16035-P4002.aspx

Looks interesting. Glass in there eh...

Im gonna have to see if my supplier has it and test it out.

Easier than homemade..probably .. better..erm.. doubt it .

YD.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

Yep that's it......

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

OK...dumb question maybe...what's the diff between fillet and fairing? Compound wise.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

ahh..wait.... fillet is between the joints and covered with glass and fairing is more like a top coat that you can sand smooth. right? close? no cigar?

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

You got it.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1992 Astro Restoration

Yes, sir that's is it. Fillets are a good thing too, but most manufactuere don't do it because of the cure times. The boat I'm restoring now didn't have fillets ran on anything, they just bridged the gap with fiberglass and let it ride.