Need Fiberglass 101 Help

[Solittle]

I'm replacing the wood backing on a couple of fiberglass hatch covers. I have removed the rotten wood, ground down all the rough edges and am ready to glass in the new 3/4" ply backing. I will be using poly resin and have both fiberglass cloth and matt.<br /><br />1. I need advice on how to put the glass on the wood so that I don't get a lot of air pockets at the edges of the wood. Would it be best to use matt or cloth? <br /><br />2. Is there a way to lengthen the pot life of the mixed resin? I have used resin before and have often found the pot life to short or had difficulty in getting it to cure.<br /><br />3. Would 5200 be the best way to seal some bolt holes that I have to drill through the finished covers so that I don't have to do this again?<br /><br />Howard<br />Miami Fl

 

[Columbia]

Re: Need Fiberglass 101 Help

If I understand correctly, you have a FRP shell, the hatch cover, with no plywood in the backside to provide more structural support for the hatch slide. After you glue in the plywood, you want to glass over it. Does that seem right? If that's the case, I would simply fit the ply, glue it in with a thick'ish resin putty and put plenty on so it mooshes up the sides, trowel smooth or to a fillet shape, glass in. Pot life won't be an issue 'cuz mooshing it in takes little time. But you can extend the potlife by using less hardener if you're using polyester resin. THis works where it's hot. Here, right now, I'd add more.... If epoxy, you can use a slower hardener. If I didn't get it, speak again.