Im sure this question has been asked on here, and I have scrolled through many posts trying not to repeat a question, but here it is. I am new to shaping, and to this forum. Whenever I laminate the bottom and bring the laps down around the rails, i have run off that exceeds the laps onto the unglassed sides of the deck. When this hardens and I go to laminate the deck, it makes it lumpy underneath the cloth. I have the John Carper video and did not see them tape that off or anything, but i just wanted to know if there is a cure for this or if i am doing something totally wrong? Thanks Josh
No he doesn’t use any tape. It is a “free lap” minimizing that excess resin is the essence of glassing. I set a timer that goes off 2 minutes before the kick or gel time. You need to determine this. You should be tucking your laps just before the timer goes off. I kick my resin a bit fast at around 10 to 12 minutes, but that is about all the time you really need on a short board. Once the laps are tucked and excess resin is squeegeed I use an autobody bondo spreader to do the rest. I go around the board and continually remove the drips and really flatten the lap onto the deckside. Wipe the xcess off the spreader after every swipe. When the timer goes off you know it will only be a coupla’ minutes now so work dilligently to get all the laps really flat and drips removed. Try to let the hangers go and cut them after the resin gells. Press those strings parallel to the lap line and really get on 'em to get them flat. Once it kicks …your done! Believe me the extra effort at this point pays big when you flip it to do the deck! I recently started using a 4 in 1 rasp/file to knock down the rough spots and bumps on the lap before doing the deck. Works great but you have to soak it in acetone to get the resin out. Stainless wire brush is needed to knock light rust off BEFORE you use it and always check it closely. Rust stains in lam resin are hard to remove!. Whew…what a book. Hope that helps some. Krokus
As you’re just starting out glassing - another alernative would be to tape off the laps before starting. Then, a short while after the lam gels, flip the board and cut the laps along the tapeline. This will give you clean edged laps - which you’ll need if you ever start tinting resin. -Chet