OK, This is my recent mishap. While shaping a 10’ Clarkfoam Superblue blank, I sanded down to an apparent air bubble/hole that was just under 1/4" diameter. It was deep enough for me to try some repair advice posted here. I mixed up some fresh foam dust and Elmer’s white glue. I proceeded to fill the hole and extended the “foam spackle” a little wider than needed, thinking that I could easily sand it down later. WELL, the next day it dried nicely and I proceeded to sand it. The hard “foam spackle” had become very difficult to sand even and flat. It acted like a tiny stringer, creatng a mound or rise, as I sanded the repair. I had to sand most of it off/out just to get it flat! I’m thinking my troubles began when I over extended my patch job on the hole. Now, I’m going to fill just the holes,(and nothin but holes, HA), prior to painting/glassing! Have any of you tried salt or sugar with Elmer’s and had good success? GRANT
…Grant, Both, foamdust and elmer’s…or lam.resin with sugar.Works well,only if you or I know what to do with it. The first thing you did wrong was to let it dry completely.The mix should be applied after the blank is completely shaped out,or pretty near there. Then sand it while it’s set-up a bit,but still sandable.REMEMBER:mix your patch filler on the dry/crumbley side,and pre-lam the area in question with whatever it is you are using as your sticky base,(eg.elmer’s,lam.resin). Practice on some cut-off blank ends first.Never: try something NEW on the real thing,test it first…it hurts a lot less in the long run.Herb.
After the blank is fine sanded and ready to glass, mix a paste with a bit of white pigment, foam dust, lam resin and catalyst and fill the hole just to the surface (nuthin’ but hole.) If it appears too high, scrape it even with a credit card and LEAVE IT ALONE - don’t sand it. Laminate as usual after the patch sets up and if you’re glassing clear, you’ll barely be able to see it, if at all. There is also some Solarez white putty made for patching blanks. With tints and foam stains, the repair will be more obvious.
Thanks for the advice. I forgot about the pigment option…and of course(nothin’ but hole). Thanks John.>>> After the blank is fine sanded and ready to glass, mix a paste with a bit > of white pigment, foam dust, lam resin and catalyst and fill the hole just > to the surface (nuthin’ but hole.) If it appears too high, scrape it even > with a credit card and LEAVE IT ALONE - don’t sand it. Laminate as usual > after the patch sets up and if you’re glassing clear, you’ll barely be > able to see it, if at all. There is also some Solarez white putty made for > patching blanks. With tints and foam stains, the repair will be more > obvious.