Re: practice hull
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:29 pm
The layup over a smooth surface has worked really well for me when I was making fiberglass panels. That is, with no plywood. But on this job, I used a 7" disc sander and it didn't turn out to be a big deal to get a really nice finish. Really dusty but not that much work. Maybe an hour for the whole hull. Using a foam brush the epoxy flowed on with a very smooth surface.
No real sanding after the first coat of epoxy only. Then I knocked down any small defects that stood up after the cloth (9 oz), and then a few minutes smoothing after the last coat of glass. I primed and then ran my orbital over it to find any pits and filled them with dabs of bondo and then flowed on two courts of Brightside one part epoxy gloss coat. I could have used a long hand sanding board for a perfect finish like some sort of America's Cup sailboat but I didn't feel the need. Too lazy also.
I used 9 oz cloth on the deck and, in retrospect I should have used 6 oz. I can see some cloth pattern in one place. This may have, however, been caused by some left over amine as I did my vinegar/water wash down with a rag rather than a hose.
At very few points will this hull offend the gods by being too perfect.
No real sanding after the first coat of epoxy only. Then I knocked down any small defects that stood up after the cloth (9 oz), and then a few minutes smoothing after the last coat of glass. I primed and then ran my orbital over it to find any pits and filled them with dabs of bondo and then flowed on two courts of Brightside one part epoxy gloss coat. I could have used a long hand sanding board for a perfect finish like some sort of America's Cup sailboat but I didn't feel the need. Too lazy also.
I used 9 oz cloth on the deck and, in retrospect I should have used 6 oz. I can see some cloth pattern in one place. This may have, however, been caused by some left over amine as I did my vinegar/water wash down with a rag rather than a hose.
At very few points will this hull offend the gods by being too perfect.