installing fin boxes - poly blank, RR Epoxy glassing schedule

General Discussion
1

In Gregs Epoxy 101 video, he puts the fin boxes into the foam before any glassing.  Can I do it the “old” way by laminating, THEN putting the boxes in, or is it best to put them in before doing any glass work, and if, so, why…??  thanks.

2

you can put the boxes in after you have laminated the board but it is easyer and stronger if done in the foam before laminating

3

Ok, thanks.  Will do.

4

Ok, so I didn’t have any boxes and/or jigs, and I REALLY wantes to start glassing this little board.  Bottom is laminated and getting ready to do the top.  Can I still just install fin boxes after the lam?  If so, should I do it after the bottom is fully cured, reinforce with some patches in the fin areas and install then?  Or wait until after the hotcoat?  Thanks.

5

If I am doing a colored lamination, I like to put the boxes in after because sometimes a bubble appears as void after I sand.  Then I cap it with a couple of 6oz pieces.  I can’t see through the colored resin, and I feel them through with my fingers, and ears, but sometimes those pesky bubbles appear, no matter how long I babysit them.  Properly adjusted jigs are the key.

6

Thanks…As long as I can put the boxes in after lam or hotcoat, I’m fine…So which is it?  After lam or after hotcoat?  It’s been awhile since I did a board, and this will be my first board using epoxy with fin boxes. 

7

Do it before the hotcoat… so you can hotcoat over the the footballs.

8

Thanks. 

9

since you are cutting into the lamination, if its clear I would add 2 patches. If you did color it will show a collor change with 2.

10

I did clear for my first epoxy job…So two patches it is…Thanks again.

11

.....more than one way to get the job done....

I lam and hot coat with epoxy resin in less than 24 hours. No solvents or sanding in between Lam and hot coat. And with epoxy it's not really a "hot coat" because you use the same mix ratio. Let it cure for a day or two and then install the box. And then sand that and do a tail patch over the box. Not production...not fast....but that's how I do it.....

12

Thanks Ray…Just hotcoated the deck.  Guess I’ll hot coat the bottom as well then. If I run into trouble, I know who to call…  :wink: