Have any of you ever glassed a board with woven hemp fiber instead of fiberglass?
In the old days mountain climbers used hemp rope for safety. The problem was, if a climber fell, the hemp rope had no give or “spring”. The unfortunate climber often got broken ribs, not from bouncing off the rocks, but from the static stop at the end of his fall. Modern climbing ropes will stretch 90% before they break. I’m only guessing, but it seems that hemp is too short-fibered, too rough, and too static to consider as laminating material. Although it might look cool, if you could do it. Doug
In the old days mountain climbers used hemp rope for safety. The problem was, if a climber fell, the hemp rope had no give or “spring”. The unfortunate climber often got broken ribs, not from bouncing off the rocks, but from the static stop at the end of his fall. Modern climbing ropes will stretch 90% before they break. I’m only guessing, but it seems that hemp is too short-fibered, too rough, and too static to consider as laminating material. Although it might look cool, if you could do it. Doug
jim banks was doing a few hemp boards a couple of years ago in australia
jim banks was doing a few hemp boards a couple of years ago in australia
Hemp is one of the natural fibres that does lend itself for lminating, in fact some parts like doors and car panels are reinforced using thermosetting polymers and hemp fibres. I would also like to laminate a board with hemp and ordered some samples from a local supplier of technical fibres, but they were of poor quality. So I think the biggest problem is not the fibre strenght but the problem of finding the right hemp cloth for laminating.
Hemp is one of the natural fibres that does lend itself for lminating, in fact some parts like doors and car panels are reinforced using thermosetting polymers and hemp fibres. I would also like to laminate a board with hemp and ordered some samples from a local supplier of technical fibres, but they were of poor quality. So I think the biggest problem is not the fibre strenght but the problem of finding the right hemp cloth for laminating.
Mention Jim banks and the “Wavelite” misadventure… Jim got in on it late in the piece and he can’t claim credit for developing the technique. Basically its hemp fibre in a T-shirt weave (Stretchy!!!) The cloth is pulled taut over the styrene shape while it is on EDGE - not on the flat (Is that hard to picture?) & vacuum bagged. The guys involved had intense difficulty with the process still requiring fibreglass & thus the whole Green concept was compromised. Not sure if they are still at it. They never achieved true weight advantage, the recyclable thing was a bit of a hoax… http://www.speedneedle.com.au
Mention Jim banks and the “Wavelite” misadventure… Jim got in on it late in the piece and he can’t claim credit for developing the technique. Basically its hemp fibre in a T-shirt weave (Stretchy!!!) The cloth is pulled taut over the styrene shape while it is on EDGE - not on the flat (Is that hard to picture?) & vacuum bagged. The guys involved had intense difficulty with the process still requiring fibreglass & thus the whole Green concept was compromised. Not sure if they are still at it. They never achieved true weight advantage, the recyclable thing was a bit of a hoax… http://www.speedneedle.com.au
Bro he only said I was glassing some boards with hemp, he didn’t say I invented it. Jim.
Bro he only said I was glassing some boards with hemp, he didn’t say I invented it. Jim.
Hi Jim- Yes I took a big assumption there talking about wavelite etc… Got on a wagon without the real authority, after all, i was’nt involved with those guys, so, sorry. Anyway, you can tell the story. like, why did’nt it work?Or do you disagree? http://www.speedneedle.com.au
Hi Jim- Yes I took a big assumption there talking about wavelite etc… Got on a wagon without the real authority, after all, i was’nt involved with those guys, so, sorry. Anyway, you can tell the story. like, why did’nt it work?Or do you disagree? http://www.speedneedle.com.au