I am getting ready to glass my third board - the first two I did were from greenlight using EPS foam, epoxy resin, and bamboo cloth instead of fiberglass. The bamboo cloth actually works well for anyone thinking of trying it.
This time I am trying a PU blank and polyester resin and my question is about laminating. I have seen some videos of people taping the deck off, laminating the bottom, then triming to the tape on the deck once it gels - have also seen some not tape off the deck. What is the best method to use? Any tips on the lam process, sanding the laps, etc. would be much appreciated since this is all new to me.
The first method you describe is called “cut-lapping”. It was historically the only way to do it because the glass used (volan) was not perfectly clear (greenish tint) and thus you had to have a very neat line (cut) or it would have looked awful. It’s still the only method to use if you’re doing tinted resin, for the same reason.
In the '70s, a new type of glass started to get used (silane) and this one was (almost) completely clear. Thus, additional layers of cloth are not really visible and you can then use the second method: free-lapping. This is done by cutting very carefully the cloth, then lapping directly without any tape on the deck side. But watch out for loose strands of glass that will make you crazy trying to make them stick (or not)…
All in all, the cut-lap method is easier for a beginner, I believe. But preparation is important (taping the deck, making sure the tape sticks correctly to the foam…) Free-lapping may look easier but is not, actually. It takes a lot of know how to perform it OK.
Plenty of threads with detailed info on glassing: hit the “search” button.
taping off the deck, glassing, and then trimming the tape is called a “cutlap”. This leaves a clean line where the glass has been trimmed. This is used when doing a tinted lam. An art and a science in and of itself.
If you are not doing a colored lam, then you do not have to do this. This is called a free-lap. Depends on what asthetic you are seeking.
Using Poly kicked with MEKP (catalyst) has a shorter pot life than epoxy so you will ahve to work quicker. An excellent alteranative is UV cured Poly resin. Work time is nearly unlimited as it cures only when exposed to UV light (sun, or UV curing lights.)
Pages and pages and pages on all the above already exist here. All the answers already exist. Just have to do a little searching.
You can use epoxy resin on a poly blank and it’s actually easier to use for a beginner. While you have all the time in the world to work w/ UV poly resin, if you fart around too long the resin will start to drain into the blank giving you a heavier, weaker board. I seal my poly blanks w/ an epoxy/cab-o-sil/q-cell slurry w/ pigment and that saves some weight too.
I’ve done cutlaps on my last several boards and I like the technique compared to free laps b/c I get a much cleaner line. Some of the pros on here have said that free laps are stronger. While I believe them, I don’t necessarily understand why…
I’ve been wondering about sealing poly blanks w/ Fast n Final??? I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, but I’d love to know if anyone else has done it and what kind of success was achieved???
Thanks for all the tips - will definitely search previous posts for more info. Not going to attempt a tint on this board, want to get a few under my belt first. Think I will try a cut lap, sounds like an easier option for a novice.. I am going to try solarez for my next board - heard a lot of people use it and never go back to using a catalyst.
Howzit steve00, For a novice I recommend a cut lap since free lapping can be a disaster if you don't have your squeegeeing down. But after you master freelapping it can be so much fun and the glass cutting is the trick then. I don't like to brag but people used to think my free laps were cut laps. That was after trying free laps on some boards for Ambrose back in the 80's and they were ugly with strands everywhere's. After that I put in my time leaning how to do them right, i had done nothing but cut laps for years up til Ambroses boards.There are tricks to free lapping. Aloha,Kokua