so i got a few bubbles in my first attempt at glassing. oh well.
is there a way to fix these? or am i going to be cursed with soft spots for the eternity of the new board?
If they’re really bubbles… where the cloth has liften up off the foam… cut 'em out with a razor blade and patch 'em.
Howzit pirate, You can get bubbles from not enough resin which is a fairly easy fix or too muh resin which is not an easy fix but at least with too much resin you don't have to worry about delam but the strength is not as good as a good lam job. If it's from a dry lam just mix up some lam rsin with styrene to thin it and force it down through the resin and hopefully the bubles will disappear but if not then don't ponder onit and just finish and ride it. Aloha,Kokua
thanks for the advice guys....
it was from not enough resin around the edges of my first free lap, then i didnt grind it back enough so some bubble formed on the deck along the lap line from the bottm. the board is a bit rough anyway so i just hot coated it and will sand and surf it and see how the shape rides. it's only my 3rd board built and 1st glassed, so if i like it and it falls apart i'll just make another one with the same template. this board was kind of a test for me to get the whole glassing sanding process down pat.... i left some nasty wheel marks sanding down a couple of areas on the lam coat too!
have another board shaped and ready to glass, and i think it will be a lot better 2nd time glassing.
Glassing gets easier. I just got done with # 2 and it was so much easier knowing the things to avoid. I ended up with the same bubbles along the lap line on my first one as well. I cut em out and patched and the board is holding up ok.1st one was a free lap with solid tint top and bottom. #2 was different resin patterns top and bottom with a cutlap. In my opinion the cutlap was more work but but came out with less sanding.
Sanding is a whole different story. Not easier the 2nd time around.
when you get those bubbles on the lap just dab them with a brush and resin
better yet do a better prep
More than anything glassing is done by feeling. An experienced laminator can feel when the right amount of resin has saturated the cloth and penetrated the foam; furthermore, a good laminator can hear the bubbles pop and fill with resin as the squeegee adjusts to the shaped contours.
Now for the helpful hint the attack angle of the squeegee becomes more vertical and with more pressure as one moves through the process.
More than anything glassing is done by feeling. An experienced laminator can feel when the right amount of resin has saturated the cloth and penetrated the foam; furthermore, a good laminator can hear the bubbles pop and fill with resin as the squeegee adjusts to the shaped contours.
Now for the helpful hint the attack angle of the squeegee becomes more vertical and with more pressure as one moves through the process.
Howzit ghettorat, Sounds like you have glassed a few boards your self and good advise for pirate. As for the angle of the squeege more angle forces the resin into the glass and then go more vertical to take resin out. that sound you are talking about sounds like tiny bubbles poppingand that is a good sound to hear. Aloha,Kokua
Hey Kokua, In all humility, I can do it all at the highest level and have except pinline and polish. Now that doesn’t mean I do everything perfectly, because anyone who has knows that making surfboards is a comedy of errors. The best you can do can always be better. But there are many variables one can control. If I sound like I know it is because I do, and that can be an affront to those who think they do. Now, that being said, there is more than one way for all aspects of production, and really most guys on this board are not ready for it; however, there are many experts that regularly post here, and they know who they are.
Your exactly right on point about squeegee angles. Laminating is all about spreading out the resin evenly and trying to only leave the proper amount on the board for the maximum strength to weight, and glass to matrix levels. Of course there are limiting factors the most of which I would say being gravity. So the next hint, which may seem obvious, always try let gravity be your friend when laminating.
I hope your feeling better and I do appreciate your “helpfullness” on this board. If your on Kauai, and you see Bob Brown AKA “Mr. Bubble” tell him to relax before he pops.
Howzit ghettorat, I am the same as you since I was in the business since the late 60's and even I was always looking for ways to do things better and easier and that is the way to be, one thing is my glossing and polshing was down to a science. So you know Bob, that's nice to know and I now he was going through some heavy times a few months back but I am not in the position to say why without his permission. Do you also know Bobby Allen who lives on Bob's propertyin Wainiha? When Bobby needed materials or Bob when he was on Kauai they always knew to call me and they got all their FCS plugs and fins from me also. I really want to get in better health so I can go and visit Bob and his wife since we are good friends. Bob would always get mad at me because I did the repair work on his house on Kauai and would never take his money but I got a lot of tees,trunks and hats. Aloha,Kokua
I hope you start to feel better soon I do not know why we have to suffer so much in this life. I guess it is in order for all the days racing through the flat rock, and the times I imagine you spent at Hanakapi’ai.
Oh yeah, I know Russ, Cyn, and BASA. I spent a lot of time with Russ back in the day. He really is classic, and should get more respect in the business, and some of the very best craftsmen in the surfing kingdom have labored for him. Now, BASA he is freaking different and I know he will not be reading this because he never learned how to, yet still a freaking amazing craftsmen.
I have also had more than my share of his t-shirts. I should go in to see him and restock it has been awhile. We really do know quite a few of the same people.
Howzit ghettorat, It does seem that we do know a lot of the same people and that means we have rubbed elbows with some of the best in the business. I have to say that if you are a friend of BASA's then you must be a really good guy since you know what a grump he can be. I can remember us going to dinner at the Dolphin and the waiter brought him a menu and boy did we laugh and the waiter didn't have a clue that Bobby can't read, he can a little but not much. I can still remember what he orders ,a NY steak Med Rare, baked potato and an artichoke for an appitizer. I gave Bobby a lot of materials when I left plus a belt drive compressor. We had this thing when we would be driving towards each other and played chicken and if there was a rider in my van they would almost s^&t their pants.To this day Bobby is one of my best friends and I would do anything for him and that goes for Bob also and they know it. Bobby was ther for me after I got home from all my cancer treatments ,People will offer to help but then when you need them they comeup with an excuse but not Bobby.Ambrose is another one of the crew and helps Bobby also. We always take care of each other. Aloha,Kokua
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Howzit ghettorat, Sounds like you have glassed a few boards your self and good advise for pirate. As for the angle of the squeege more angle forces the resin into the glass and then go more vertical to take resin out. that sound you are talking about sounds like tiny bubbles poppingand that is a good sound to hear. Aloha,Kokua
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For you guys this is a simple comment, for hacks like me, this is pure gold!, and helps a great deal.
Cheers mike, helpful as usual!
I have too many BASA and Russell stories that can never end up in print. But it can be said they are truly one of kind. You must have a heart of gold to put up with BASA on a regular basis, because as you have said, he is a grump. Nevertheless, he is a master surfboard craftsman and deserves all respect for that. I am glad that he looked out for you and helped you in your time of need; that warms my heart. BASA and myself have not always seen eye to eye. I could say the same about Russ, but he has been really instrumental in my progress as a board builder. That being said, it does not mean I don’t have a ton of love in my heart for the man. All the best to you.
Howzit ghetto,I know what you mean about BASA and he doesn't get along with a lot of people but we are tight as friends and I never had to ask him for help since he would offer first. He is a great craftsman wether it be surfboards or balsa airplanes. He has been painting pictures for the last few years and and is a natural and he gave me 2 before I left and they were the first thing I put on my wall when I moved in here.I am sure you know what he did for Russel years ago that I won't mention here and that shows just how close they are. When he heard I had cancer he was calling me almost everyday and was so glad to hear I made it and I need to get better so I cango stay with him and Cyn since he tells me to come stay with them, if you see him just tell him you know Wildog. One reason Bobby and I always get along is we really respect each others craftsmanship when it comes to building boards.Maybe some day we can mee and talk story since we do have a lot in common. I gave Bobby my 37" tv when I left and he is the only guy I know who watches 2 TV's at the same time. Next time I go back to Kauai I plan on hitting Bob B. up for staying in his house in wainiha. Aloha,Kokua