Im not sure how this site works and stuff in terms of the archive. I have a 6’0’ x 19.5" x 2 3/8" board that I’ve shaped. It turned out pretty well…a little off on the exact symetry, but very good imo. Its just a foam blank sitting here now and Im very satisfied with it. Now onto the glassing. I know NOTHING about this…so i was hoping one of you, or maybe more, could help me out with what materials I need. With the board the size it is, and with me glassing on 4 fins in a quad fin set up, what exactly am I gonna need to get to get this thing started. And can most of these supplies be found at places where I dont have to order them offline? I got an idea of some of the things, but Im just gonna ask for a complete list as of now, and go with what you guys say. This is, of course, my first time glassing - and since you guys helped me out so much with the shaping of the board - Im hoping you could do the same with the glassing and that the success will still be the same [wink] Thanks in advance for any help any of you can give me.
Bryan, You will need: at least 1 gallon polyester resin, 100 cc’s MEKP catalyst, 1 qt styrene/wax solution (SA) smallest you can buy I think, 7 yrds 4 oz fiberglass cloth, E-glass is OK, 12" squeegee (rubber), 6" yellow auto body spreader (plastic), 6 54 oz paper mixing buckets, small wisk for mixing, gallon plastic pail for cleaning parts, 1 gallon acetone, Small syringe or plastic cup w/cc’s marked on it for measuring, 10 ft of fin rope, glassing stands(2 5gal buckets, sand, 1 1/2" pvc w/T’s and caps), 4 in 1 file, 80 grit/100 grit sand paper. 1" 3M masking tape. razor blades, plastic drop cloth, repirator! box of rubber exam gloves. This is your optimum list. I think I covered everything. Some things you will have to order unless you have a fiberglass supply shop in your area. the rest is general hardware. If you have access to JC’s glassing 101 try to get it and watch it. Good general info about glassing, laying up fins and sanding. Worth the $20 for sure. THE #1 MISTAKE FIRST TIME GLASSERS MAKE (MYSELF INCLUDED) IS RESIN KICKING BEFORE YOU ARE DONE!!! TEST A LITTLE AND TIME IT! Write it down! Note the temperature. Leave yourself enough time for the first pour…at least 15 minutes!!!20 is better. I use 10 minutes now for a shortboard but I have done a few! Guys if I forgot something please fill in. Bryan, send me an email and I will send you a detailed write up of what to expect. I’m at work all night tonight Krokus
You will also need the materials and tools to sand the hot coat. A sander/polisher will get the job done in quick order, but you can also do it by hand if you are low on funds. The Glassing 101 video also covers how to sand.
about the glassing 1, if you use suncure you won’t have to worry about the single biggest glasser fear: resin kicking too soon. 2, if you use suncure, and you won’t waste any either. 3, the last board I did was a 9’6" 22" wide and I used almost exactly a gallon of polyester catalyzed resin, total. On the bottom single lam I used 3.5 cups of resin on 6 ounce cloth, didn’t lose but an ounce on the floor, but I don’t like to cut it that closely. See, a six-footer with a narrow nose will use something like 2 cups or less, you do the math, don’t waste it to the floor. I buy by the 5 gallon can, costs about $20 a gallon that way. Suncure will cost a little more maybe 23/gallon at the 5 gallon rate. Don’t buy quarts, the container price and retail markup kills you. Anyway, the point I wanted to make was that a gallon is a lot more than you’ll need. 4, If using suncure, no worries about mixing bowls, pour straight from the can. I use plain old glass jars for my polyester resin, cleaned, with a strip of tape up the side marking the 1, 2 and 3 cup measurement levels. Note, each time, how much resin you use, and soon you’ll not be wasting it. 5, use disposable gloves to protect your hands from resin and acetone during cleanup. 6, Get someone experienced to be there if you can.