Quick deck glassing question...

[noworries79]

Hi Everyone,
I have been racing through my resin supply using CSM for stringers & bulkheads. When I eventually coat the top surface of the deck do I need to wet out the CSM before the cloth? Can I wet the plywood, lay out the CSM and cloth then wet both from the top? I know this is a newby question, thank you in advance.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

Wet out the wood and then let it cure first, apply more resin, then CSM, wet that out, apply cloth and add more resin as needed.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

If its wet first make sure you can lay the cloth in one go without having to move it about as it will pull the thread and clump up,I covered the deck first let it dry and gave it a light sand and wash let it dry and lay the cloth out and wet from the top with resin,before it sets fully add another coat and then another.This is how it turned out.


http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx179/fergalbutler/bow light/004.jpg

 

[lowkee]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

I'm with ondarvr. The wood will absorb some resin, stealing it from the CSM. Coating the wood first, then applying a second coat will lessen the absorption when you do the CSM and cloth.

 

[noworries79]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Good Ol Boy]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

The guys are right, probably dont need to say but after you put the first coat down , sand it a lil with a palm sander or block sander. Reason for this is A: Adhesion, B: Divets which could result in air bubbles between coats. C: High spots

Use a paint roller wrapped in tape of your choice to even out and do the same when you put the cloth down. Start in the center work your way out to the edges for the cloth part.

 

[Spinnaker]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

You don't need to put a first coat of resin down and let it kick. You want the csm right against the plywood. Roll the resin on with a roller and put the csm down. Roll the resin on top and air roll. If you really wanted to you could put a second coat on after that but it's not necessary.

on Smaller pieces of mat it is even better to wet the surface with resin, roll resin on the mat on a piece of cardboard then transfer it to the surface you are applying it to. If you are not used to doing it it can be messy. Too much resin will cause the mat to stretch when you pick it up. So needless to say this take practice.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

It is very important to wet out the wood first and let it harden. Not doing so frequently results in the wood drawing resin out of the glass, leaving dry spots and air, resulting in a poor bond and weak laminate.

 

[Spinnaker]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

It is very important to wet out the wood first and let it harden. Not doing so frequently results in the wood drawing resin out of the glass, leaving dry spots and air, resulting in a poor bond and weak laminate.

I'd say it is a benefit but very important? I don't agree. What kind of wood are we talking? Sure, maybe if it were balsa but plywood? Doesn't soak up that much to worry about.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

You never know from one piece of wood to the next just how much resin it will soak up and how fast it will do it, it can also be different on the same piece of wood. Also pre wetting allows the resin to soak in and lets it penetrate deeper. One of the reasons so many floors fail is because in high production this is rarely done.

 

[Spinnaker]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

You never know from one piece of wood to the next just how much resin it will soak up and how fast it will do it, it can also be different on the same piece of wood. Also pre wetting allows the resin to soak in and lets it penetrate deeper. One of the reasons so many floors fail is because in high production this is rarely done.

All in all it certainly can't hurt. Added security and piece of mind I'd say.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Quick deck glassing question...

You never know from one piece of wood to the next just how much resin it will soak up and how fast it will do it, it can also be different on the same piece of wood.

The exterior plywood I used for my deck sucked up epoxy resin like you wouldn't believe. It most certainly would have sucked any overlaying glass dry. Others, using different wood, have been able to do the same job using far less resin. So it really does seem to depend on the wood.

I'm kinda regretting not going with marine ply on my project because North Beach used it on his and used less than a third of the amount of resin. It would seem that the money I saved using regular exterior ply got blown on epoxy.