Hi, I’m a newb here, but I have done a few boards. Previously when glassing rice paper decals under the cloth Ive gotten some air bubbles. I have noticed alot of board manufactures use vinyl lams but it appears they glass them under just a hot coat. Can you do this with rice paper? If so, does it need to be over the top of a coat containing surface agent? Also, are there any techniques for glassing and sanding I should know before I try this- to get it smooth.
ps is it commonplace to do this on the bottom of the board too? Because it does have noticeable bumps.
An easy way to get wrinkle free lams on a hot coat is to put them under a piece of fiberglass cloth, and when the resin has gelled in to B-stage, pull the cloth off the top and the underlying decal will be really flat with no bubbles. Then it can be glossed, and polished, if done correctly. If you have a piece of peel-ply use it over the decal instead of the glass, and pull it after its hardened. Harold Walker taught me that one, and it can save a stage, like glassing over and seeing discoloration; still as Herb alludes to it can create nightmares without it being totally flat.
An easy way to get wrinkle free lams on a hot coat is to put them under a piece of fiberglass cloth, and when the resin has gelled in to B-stage, pull the cloth off the top and the underlying decal will be really flat with no bubbles. Then it can be glossed, and polished, if done correctly. If you have a piece of peel-ply use it over the decal instead of the glass, and pull it after its hardened. Harold Walker taught me that one, and it can save a stage, like glassing over and seeing discoloration; still as Herb alludes to it can create nightmares without it being totally flat.
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good info here,more detailed than mine foresure.
i've also used mylar sheeting as g stated about peel ply(i use mylar sheeting in many apps like,eg. molding)...............getting it flat and bubble free is the most important thing.