Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

[froggy1150]

They have cheap ones at harbor freight if you have one of those near you

 

[Ciera2450]

+1 harbor freight.. cheap fix to get you by.

 

[tpenfield]

There is a Harbor Freight Tools about 20 mins away. I didn’t think of HF. I’ll see what I can do.

 

[Ciera2450]

I commend your skills sir! I cant nor couldn’t put this type of skill and precision into my platform build. I’m gonna foam mold, ply core and hand layup glass. Hoping it’ll hold humans. :joyous:

 

[Scott Danforth]

News Flash . . .

Other ideas?

Napalm and an insurance claim?

 

[zool]

The HF vacuum pump works fine, Ive been using one to evacuate auto ac for a while now. Its a little weak, but does the job.

 

[fishrdan]

Other ideas?

Autozone or Orilley auto parts, borrow (Loan-a Tool) one of their vacuum pumps for AC work, just don't let resin in it

 

[tpenfield]

$100 later, Back in business, hopefully . . .



The other pump had the rotary vanes stuck from ingesting resin. I got one of the vanes freed up , but the other one is still stuck. The original pump may be fixable, but probably won't be 100%.

So, this new one will have to do.

 

[oldrem]

Sounds like my kind of luck. Dang that sucks - no pun intended

 

[tpenfield]

Sounds like my kind of luck. Dang that sucks - no pun intended

There are times when I think if it weren't for bad luck, I would have any luck at all.

 

[Grub54891]

The vacuum pump I have ate some resin also. The new pump was thrown in the trash because the po was mad he did that. I fished it out, disassembled it and soaked it in acetone. Some bronze wool to clean it up and now it works perfectly.

 

[tpenfield]

The vacuum pump I have ate some resin also. The new pump was thrown in the trash because the po was mad he did that. I fished it out, disassembled it and soaked it in acetone. Some bronze wool to clean it up and now it works perfectly.

Yes, I currently have the rotor/vane assembly soaking in acetone. One of the vanes loosened up after being soaked overnight, but the other one is still stuck. Maybe by this afternoon it will free up.

 

[Scott Danforth]

There are times when I think if it weren't for bad luck, I would have any luck at all.

Gloom....despair....and agony on me...

 

[chevymaher]

I use my vacuum pump fpor changing the oil. LOL.

 

[tpenfield]

Quick update . . .

I had trouble getting a good seal on the bagging material, so I could not get the glass tight to the contour of the plug.

Ran out of time this weekend, so the glassing will have to wait until another weekend.

 

[tpenfield]

Making some progress . . .

I have the glass and infusion materials laid out as well as the vacuum bag in place.



I had to make a complete bag to fully seal things.

I have run a vacuum test and made sure the runners are lined up where they should go. The little HF pump takes a while to pull the air out of the bag, but it does the job.

Next steps are to hook up the resin plumbing, then onto infusion.

 

[garbageguy]

Way to go! Thanks for sharing

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ted, have you had a chance to pull the other pump apart? two pumps on-hand would aid in success in the event you suck up resin again

 

[tpenfield]

Ted, have you had a chance to pull the other pump apart? two pumps on-hand would aid in success in the event you suck up resin again

Yes, I got it all apart, cleaned, and back together, but it does not seem to pull any pressure. I consider it a work in progress, but low priority. The little one will have to do

 

[tpenfield]

THE BIG INFUSION Update . . .

I got everything all set on Friday (March 22, 2019) so that I could do the resin infusion Saturday AM.

3 gallons of Polyester resin
13 oz of styrene thinner
1.3 oz of 10% TBC inhibitor solution (to get ~ 300 ppm)
7 oz of MEKP (1.9%)
Resin & plug temperature = 59-60˚ F

Here is my setup. . .

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After all of the discussion about resin flow, working time, etc. I decided on an elevated resin pot with a 3/4" ID tube, leading to a distribution manifold connecting to 4 1/2" feed tubes, and the runner system that you see in the picture above.

I mixed the resin and additives, then activated it with the MEKP and poured it into the resin pot. I managed to put the resin pot up on the top shelf of the rack in the background without incident. Then started the resin flow . . .

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I let as much resin as I possible could get into the runner system before shutting of the feed valve and then clamping the individual tubes.
.

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Now I am continuing to run the vacuum and am monitoring the heat of the resin/mold to see when it starts to kick.