OK, I’m up in New Hampshire and we’re already hitting the high 30’s at night despite the fact that it’s only early October. I was hoping to glass 4 longboards over the next month but only have an unheated space separate from the house; so I don’t gas my kids with the noxious odors. I’m looking for ANY cold weather glassing tips to make this process more successful.
I’ve heard Suncure resin is better than the traditional poly resin because it can cure rather quickly and seems a bit more impervious to the cold. Is it true that it really hardens in a matter of minutes when exposed to sunlight, or does it just jell in a a short time? Other than that, are there any other cold weather glassers who can give me some tips? Thanks!
OK, I'm up in New Hampshire and we're already hitting the high 30's at night despite the fact that it's only early October. I was hoping to glass 4 longboards over the next month but only have an unheated space separate from the house; so I don't gas my kids with the noxious odors. I'm looking for ANY cold weather glassing tips to make this process more successful.
I've heard Suncure resin is better than the traditional poly resin because it can cure rather quickly and seems a bit more impervious to the cold. Is it true that it really hardens in a matter of minutes when exposed to sunlight, or does it just jell in a a short time? Other than that, are there any other cold weather glassers who can give me some tips? Thanks!
-Hanlon
[/quote]
do what you gotta do....moving south might help.......sounds like a lack of summer bummer.......time to build a room....with a heater and a good vent system.......
Either epoxy or poly - warm the resin first. No flame! Use a water radiator. This is the case also for suncure because the cold will make it thicker. (Weak sun just takes longer...no sweat.)
Warm the board up. Make a tent out of boxes if you have to. (A blow heater is ok here, but I NEVER leave it unattended overnight.)
Warm the room. Take board out of box and laminate on the cool-down.
Wait for gel before putting board back in heat box. If you're using epoxy , wait til significantly rubberised...resin no longer movable. Be patient there or risk weirdness...particularly with EPS. Heat too soon and you have lots of nice blow-outs.
Under 15 degrees and your gel time is severely retarded. I sometimes cannot grind a lap between lam sides for a full 24hrs if I have to leave overnight without heat on to remove fire risk.
Give your curing board as long as possible in your heat box - NOT TOO HOT!
i got a tip . cold weather and condensation cause more blush and effect the surface of the lam and can effect bond with filler coats. IN winter i fill coat before the lam gells. i do this because i find it deifficult to control the variables .
Yeah blush...I've been scrubbing and scuffing everything between lam and filler as a matter of routine. The blush does seem worse in the cold. Kind-of a slick that says "Don't expect me to stick to anything!"
Floating glass...yep. Has to be a bit gelled, as in the cloth won't move, or you risk getting fat ripples.
Thanks for the tips. I better get my ass in gear and glass these boards before the first snow falls. Hey Stingray, you should try some surfing up here in the great white north in January when the air and water temps are in the low 30’s but the lineups have just a few riders. Rock the 5 mm baby!