Its my first post on here and I have a few questions that I thought somebody may be able to help with.
I am going to be building my own board in the new year so I am using the winter months to collect and research as much info as possible. I have a fairly good idea on what I want and how to go about it but there are still a few nagging questions about ( you guessed it!) GLASSING.
The board will be around 8'5 with a wide nose and single fin with loads of volume, like a mini-longboard. No doubt the questions I ask have obviously been posted before but it is more comforting to know they are directly aimed at the board Im making.( If it makes sense?)
Would you advise me to free-lap or cut-lap for my first go, I am more than willing to try any method.
My understanding is that I should use 6oz cloth, and glass 1 layer on the bottom and 2 on the deck. My first question is should they be 2 full length cloths on the deck as I intend it to be nose-ridden or 1 deck patch and 1 full length? If 2 full length cloths are applied ahould they be done so simoultaneosly?
After masking the deck and glassing the bottom, the cloth is trimmed along the tape before it has hardened. Then a deck patch/full cloth is applied. Does the bottom cloth then need to be masked off before applying the deck cloth?
I take it the aim is to cut the cloths as closely to each other as possible before sanding.Will the joins be covered by the hot coat and gloss coat(I do intend to gloss)? ie Are pinlines necessary to cover the joins or will it look ok left alone?
Finally, When I apply the last cloth and lap it around the rail from deck to bottom how do i finish off the edge? Is it just blended in to the bottom with the sander? Again I realise the hot coat will not perform miracles but will it allow a well sanded edge to be covered?
Thanks in advance as I have just noticed how long the post is. Sorry.
I take a break from the lam room to eat something, so I have a bit of time to try to help you
.The things you say is referent to cut lap and not free lap
.If you have volan cloth you need to cut lap and not free lap
.if you ll do color resin work you need to cut lap
.In that length and first shape to lam, better cut lap to prevent possible mistakes forward
.Better 3 x 4oz on the deck, but not for the first time, but have in mind for future boards
.Better to put both layers all the length; if you re concerned about the weight, use 1 x 6oz and 1 x 4oz on the deck but full
.yes, mask deck; then cut the bottom cloth wider to pass where the cut will be; lam, then razor blade cut;if the cloth isn t Volan or color work you don t need to cut lap the bottom, so put 1 layer then cut to the edge of the rail (to the bottom), put the other layer and leave the lap hanging, then lam
do not cut the first deck layer to the bottom cut (like an inlay) you ll have a not strong board+weak rails; also, better to have stiffness in the rails
I would guess you are going to use polyester. This is my experience, although with epoxy:
For my first board I was going to do a cutlap to make it look neat and pretty and I thought it would be easier. I was told by a number of people to free lap it. I did. It came out good enough. If I were you, go buy an electric pair of shears to assist in the smooth free lap. Sand the laps good! Another tip I picked up is too round off your hard edge before glassing to get the glass to lay down on it better. and build it up with resin later
Overlap your bottom glass 1-2 inches. Sand the laps good!
Have the top layer of your deck glass overlap onto the bottom 1-2 inches. Have the top layer of your deck glass over lap your first layer of glass about an inch. Laminate them both at the same time. Sand the Laps good!
I reiterate to sand the laps good because it will save you some trouble.
Put a tape line around the board at the height of the rail making sure to leave your damn to build the hard edge. Hotcoat the bottom. Remove tape when gelled and flip after cured. Retape along the hot coat line leaving a little overlap of the previous hotcoat. Hotcoat deck. Pull tap when gelled.
I hope someone with more experience will chime in but this is what I did on my first board. Good luck and have fun!
I tend to do free laps, to me its a pain to go back and cut the lap. But color work does not lend itself to that, unless you’re doing one solid color on both sides.
One thing that no one touched on yet. Pay attention to your corners at the nose and tail. Cut your glass to allow it to overlap and not pucker. Watch one of the glassing videos to see what I mean. My first glass job was a mess because I did not pay attention to that stuff.
Also, once you have all your glass setup for the side, go over everything once more and make sure you’re ready. Then mix your resin and start in the middle, flow it out by plowing it with the squeege but don’t dump it over the rails just yet. Once its all wetted out on top then work it toward the rails and get them ready to lap. When doing the rails, start in the middle and work toward each end. Do your corners last. Most important don’t freak out, go at methodically and it will all work out.