Re: 85 VIP Tri Hull - First Restoration
Today's update...
I did a ton of sanding today to prep for the new stringers and the first layer of glass. I'm glad I live alone. If anyone else lived here, I'd be getting yelled at from now till Saturday for the mess I made! I figured a few things out in the process.
1. In the Texas heat, a box fan and water are your most important tools.
2. A pneumatic sander sounds great in theory, but is outclassed by a good electric grinder.
3. A 40 grit flap style sanding wheel makes short work of old glass and resin without getting away from you.
4. An air compressor with a blow gun is great for clearing your work area between shop vac cleanings.
5. A shop vac filter can hold 243 times it's own weight in fiberglass dust.
6. That same compressor and blow gun make short work of cleaning that filter.
7. SAFETY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED!
8. I need a new camera.
For all you guys who advocate safety and proper gear, keep it up! Safety cannot be overstated. Make good decisions and understand that fiberglass dust will show you no mercy. Get the gear and be safe! You can't see me but I'm smiling...
Considering the 105 heat index which is cooler than it has been in a while, I'm trying to stay ventilated and cool...
It's kinda hard to see since my camera is getting a little old, but I'll try to do some before and after... Before...
And after...
I admit the pics are not great, but the boat is coming along. I think I may spend one more day with a finer grit paper and do some more sanding and smoothing. Once that's done, I plan to use some West System 404 filler to fill some gaps and shape some parts of the hull. I've noticed where there are some folds in the hull the hull is weak. I figure the filler will help with that. Then I'll start with the stringers and the first layer of glass. I haven't determined the exact order I want to do all that in, but I'm getting there.
She's coming along!