Glassing Stringers

[E. E.]

I'm sure there is a trick to it but how do you keep the cloth down to the wood when covering stringers? Mine end up with a crowned effect on top that dries in places as an air bubble. I had the same problem in spots when covering the transom from the inside over the top to the outside. My concern is that when I lay the flooring and crew it down, This air bubble will crack and allow in moisture. The wood is all coated with resin but the bubble still cannot be a good thing. Thanks for any advice.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Glassing Stringers

Rounding the edges of the wood helps quite a bit...<br /><br />Bubbles... If they're of concern to ya, grind em' out and use a little torn up mat to fill in the areas....

 

[Bco128]

Re: Glassing Stringers

I've noticed in the moderate experience i have with this stuff that using a spreader helps alot in getting rid of bubbles,if it is used before the resin is cured.snapper has good advice on rounding the square edges, and of using the mat as well.but dont take my word for it im not an expert,just a somewhat experienced rookie.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Glassing Stringers

When I did mine, I glassed to the tops of the stringers, leaving the tops bare. When I was ready to lay the floor, I saturated the stringer tops with resin, then layed resin soaked strips of mat on the stringer tops. Layed the floor, screwed it down with stainless screws, and that sealed the tops of the stringers without the crowning issues. Other places I could potentially have the crowning issue I had rounded the corners and egdes, worked very well.

 

[BillP]

Re: Glassing Stringers

Test your fabrics, some go over stringers easier than others. There is a notable difference between flat weaves and round weaves for going "around" objects. <br /><br />It never is easy but this works with some success for me. Do a single piece just for the top. Coat with resin and let it tack off enough to hold the cloth down. Then use thickened resin to glass and help hold it down. Sometimes I stretch the cloth tight and monel staple it down first too (hint, you can't use too many staples).

 

[E. E.]

Re: Glassing Stringers

Thanks for the ideas. The staples is something I had tried but only on the very top edge. I had not thought of stretching it down and stapling the sides as well.<br /><br />Anyway I'm sure one of these ideas will work for me. Thanks again.