Cutting cloth

General Discussion
1

Yes I have read the archives but can’t get a definitive answer.

I’m laminating with epoxy and doing a cut lap on my hollow tonight. When it gets near sharper edges eg tail/nose do I;

  1. Put small V cuts into the cloth so they match up when flattened out

  2. Put a single cut in and allow the two edges to overlap each other, or

  3. Do nothing and squash the cloth flat and sand after.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to any of these methods.

cheers

Hicksy

2

Hicksy, I cut a vee in out of the cloth and put another patch of glass below to ensure glass coverage. Be prepared for the glass to fray and get a bit messy and because its epoxy it doesnt go off straight away, so it may not stay in the final desired position.

Bert showed me that any high bits, lumps, bumps can be fixed with a good sanding.

Good luck, I want to hear of success tomorrow

gray

3

Hicksy -

I have had the same question for years - but for what its worth this is what I have been doing lately.

A mixture of choice 2 and 3. I make the cuts so that the cloth will lap as flat as possible and then I just mash it down and sand it flush when cured. A trick I just picked up from a local boat builder is to use a tiny squirt of 3M spray adhesive. I squirt the blank in the tricky area(careful to use the littlest amount or the shit gets all gummy and takes to long to tack up) and then stick the glass onto the blank. It really works slick and it’s invisible. I use epoxy and don’t have to worry about the cloth becoming unattached when I leave the board to set.

let me know how it works, or if you have comments on this technique.

4

Too cold last night and raining up my way. Tonights the night as Rod would say.

Thanks to you both for your info. I’m a little cautious about involving adhesive spray into the mix. Perhaps when I’ve got a little more experience I’ll try it.

Yes thinking about the next one already, geez I’m a glutton for punishment.

cheers

Hicksy

5

Just did mine last week. couple of small vee’s. no glass underneath(i likely should have…) I’ll be sanding down the epoxy now to Varnish(Used FiberTek AquaSet. Beautiful gloss and easy working. Gels in about an hour. But needs UV protection afterwards.) I have little hills where the laps are, but I’ll just sand em off

6

What sort of UV protection are you using?

Hicksy

7

Well I attempted my first lamination and just made the one cut and folded over in overlaying sections, seemed to work OK. Put way too much epoxy on and now have to sand sand sand. Thanks to all for your help with this, very much appreciated.

cheers

Hicksy

8
Quote:

Well I attempted my first lamination and just made the one cut and folded over in overlaying sections, seemed to work OK. Put way too much epoxy on and now have to sand sand sand. Thanks to all for your help with this, very much appreciated.

cheers

Hicksy

Get those plastic bondo spreaders ot squeegee out excess resin after you laminate and got your laps tucked.