no. wrong answer. wrong questions.
Lam and hot coat surfboad in less than 24 hours…Done deal… 24 hours…24. you fail because of you not me…there are rules you must follow.
Make a new plan…my plan works…Stingray.
Wow, didn’t know I could ask a wrong question?
I had an instructor that used to tell us all the time: “there are no stupid questions, only stupid people” hahaha
Not directed at you J3, just reminded me of this… =)
While I can say I have picked up other things from other folks on this forum, Ray basically taught me how to glass surfboards. Listening to him turned my finished boards from terrible to decent. He will help you too J3 so don’t get offended by his comments. His intention is to help even if it comes off a little rough around the edges. My process has deviated a little from what Ray layed out but, his basics are still there.
BTW, where are you located?
Regarding epoxy and doing the job in more than 24 hours… Epoxy sets over time. If you do the next step within 12ish hours (iirc) then the 2 layers will chemically bond. If you wait longer than that to do the next step, there will only be mechanical bond. Which means that you will need to sand in between steps. Some folks (Huck iirc) do this successfully. Imo (and maybe this is what Stingray is cryptically getting at too), sanding between steps is just asking for trouble. The more you handle the board in between steps, the more you invite trouble…
Here’s my schedule… I glass a board in about 8-10 hours depending on temperature. I can do up to 3 in that time. Do step 1 on board 1 and while that is kicking, I can do step 1 on the next 2 boards and be ready for step 2 on the first board just in time, etc, etc. I am definitely not a pro but I end up with surfable boards… As long as I can keep the temp in my glassing tent above 70, I can flip in about 2 hours. If the temp is up near 80-85 I can flip in 1-1.5 hours. Anything from 85-up is dangerous! The resin kicks too fast.
So:
Lam the bottom
1:45ish later, flip, and lam the top
1:45ish later, flip, hotcoat the bottom
1:45ish later, flip, hotcoat the top
When you go to flip the board after the 1:45ish, the board will still be a little tacky. This is why you need GOOD plastic on your glassing racks. I think Ray uses masking tape. I like some good plastic on there. Even when the board is tacky, the plastic wont stick to it. Seran wrap is too thin, you need something slightly thicker… I have heard and read that with the plastic method, you can flip in 1/2 hour. Maybe one day I will try this. Up until now I have not. I can hear Ray right now, telling me to not do it. He will say something like “you’re not a pro” or “what’s your rush” or ??? hahahaha
After you’ve done all 4 coats, THEN let the board cook for a few days. I like to put it in a warm car. After it’s good and cured, go on to your sanding and whatever else.
Hope this helps and makes sense…
Thanks Chrisp. I wasn’t offended…It’s the internet! I’ll continue to search the site and ask questions. It’s better to get a gruff answer than no answer.
I’ve been waiting to glass this board for about two weeks, but it has been rainy. I’ve read enough about the need for warm and dry with epoxy. I had plans to do it today, but it rained about 1/2" yesterday and the temp in my garage dropped to the mid 60’s. So I think I’ll wait another week. Supposed be in the 70’s and drier next week. I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which if you’re familiar with them aren’t really mountains. I live about 350’ above sea level and about 15 minutes from the lane, but it is a bit colder and a little more wet up here.
I’m not sure which method I’ll go for. I’m leaning towards laminating both sides within a few hours, then putting in the fin boxes, sanding the whole thing, then final coating. But I’m not sure. Maybe I will be in a grove and do it all before the boxes. I may run into some problems, but it is a hobby and I make boards for fun. I’ve been surfing since i was 12 but only making boards for a little over a year. I haven’t YET messed a board up so bad that it couldn’t be fixed, although when I look back at the first few I made I kind of wonder. Live and learn. I’m probably not the only one in this site that learns the hardway!
Thanks again. after I glass it, I will post pics of how bad I screwed it up. : )
I did not make the rules. For your FIRST epoxy glass job you need to follow the rules. It’s all layed out in that other thread. Do what Chris says… 8 hours… I’m in So Cal. My garage is fully insullated. I have several tricks that are not included in “first epoxy glass job”. Chris made it to the advanced class on his own.
Hey Chris… the board you left in Ventura is sweet. Crew over there is stoked!
Stingray…
Thanks Ray!
That board was a DOG under my feet.
Glad they like it