Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

[Darren Nemeth]

Now after I have done a lot of fiberglassing something occurred to me and I have a question.

When using two different types of cloth can I 1) laminate one cloth on one day and the other the next? OR 2) do both get glassed in at the same time?

On my transom ply I glassed on 1.5 oz CSM.

On the transom hull I used 1.5 CSM. Week later I filled in the low spots (where I grown down too far) with peanut butter, grown it smooth then put on another layer of 1.5 oz CSM. 10 months later I used 1708 cloth and laminated in the transom plywood the same day using peanut butter.

It all seems very strong to me, a lot stronger than the original, but did I do it right? There are a couple of thin coats of resin between all layers.

I hope I did it right because I am not redoing it! lol!

 

[rngale]

Re: Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

there are several methods to what you have done, the key is to not do more than u can handle at once. That being said, i usually laminate more than one layer of cloth at a time. on my current project, working alone, my layup consists of 1 layer 1.5 oz csm 1-2 layers of 18 oz woven with a finish layer of 1.5 oz csm in the areas i iintend to fair and paint later ( makes the fairing and filling go easier.

WHen i was building boats and had a crew, the general layup in the 42 footers was 1.5 os csm,let cure scuff, 1 layer 1708 biax +/-45 degree, 3 layers 3205,let cure, scuff,3 layers 3205 with cure and scuff then 3 layers 3205 with 3/4 oz csm.

there are other boats and layup schedules too but that was one of the heaviest layups we did. The 1708 was used as a print blocker more than anything else so that when the boat cured the heavier cloth didnt print through the gelcoat, in other words you wouldnt be able to see the woven portion of the cloth in the gelcoat.

hope that helps with out makeing it confusing

 

[D.spencer]

Re: Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

That is a kinda difficult to answer question but not impossible- Yes to question 1 as long as it is unwaxed resin otherwise sanding is required to remove the surface wax. really, AFAIK, waiting is not required or neccassary as long as it is unwaxed- I have done resin on top of resin that had not even started gelling yet. As to question 2 - That is actually what would be most desired to do-The reality is though it is difficult if not impossible to accomplish if the temperatures are high at all-usually anything above 73.0 F. But, it also depends on many other factors as well- how big of an area you are working, if you are working alone or if you have help,how difficult it is to work the area I,E; cramped, hard to get in places, physical obstacles such as if you have difficulty staying stooped over for long periods of time- you get the idea. It is actually very desirable to "lay it all in at once" because it takes far less resin-working wet on wet is easier than having to wet out an area all over again. most of the time I can lay dry material on the top of wetted out material and just stiple it in without adding any additional resin to it. The big enemy is time- resin is catalyzing as soon as the mekp is added and is wanting to "fire off" . This is all of course using fresh supplies and mekp. The key is planning out every move carefully so that all your time with mixed resin is in actually glassing/wetting out and not much of anything else.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

I agree..

If you cannot lay more then 1 layer of glass.. 2 things..

1. not the right resin ( or over cat it )
2. too big an area..you need help

You should be able to put at least 3 layers on at a time..

You cant be working in direct sun.. dont let your resin sit in sun b4 you work ( if you have to .. tarp off..or work in morning or evening..)

get all your lams cut and ready b4 you think about kicking off some resin ( keep your sharp cutters handy ).

oh.. dont put PB to fill gaps in lams.. use glass to build up IMO..

YD.

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

Oops! Okay. It looks like I did it wrong. I'll just remember that what I did do is better than what the factory did.

Note to self: Putting a layer or two of resin after the cloth cures then putting more cloth on later is a no no.

In a worst case scenario what is the worse thing that can happen to my transom when out on the water seeing that I have a couple of thin layer of resin between each cloth?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

..........

In a worst case scenario what is the worse thing that can happen to my transom when out on the water seeing that I have a couple of thin layer of resin between each cloth?

A small parchute will drop from the sky with a note attached..... as you are looking towards the slowly drifting parachute...... you fail to notice the torpedoes launched at the Bat boat a small squadren of biplanes flys past each towing a banner ...... Bye bye Batman........ signed The Joker, The Riddler, The Penguin, Cat Woman........

and you sink however we know Batman will survive for the sequel!

Based on the amount of work you have done....... you will be fine!

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: Fiberglassing with two cloths? Once at a time or both at once?

Based on the amount of work you have done....... you will be fine!

that is what I am hoping. :redface:

Here is the original transom (outlined in red) verses the one I put in this month.

I'll just double up on the wood for the transom boxes on each side. That should compensate a little.