How To Save An Infusion Gone Wrong

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by CatBuilder, Sep 18, 2011.

  1. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    Today was my first day using all new materials (and epoxy) for infusion. I'm now using "the best", but there are still challenges.

    My Airtech green flow media bunched up in some places and made very sharp little points that put holes in the bag. Guess "the best" isn't that much better than the stuff from Home Depot I was using. Really, it isn't that much better than 6 mil poly and Liquid Nails. But, I'm now using it.

    These tiny holes were everywhere. There were too many to be able to tape them all up, so I reasoned out a way to save the laminate that will work with any infusion that is starting to take on air.

    Here's what you do if you see a lot of bubbles going up the infusion, threatening to suck the laminates dry and leave you with a weak layup:

    1) Make sure the infusion worked - all glass must be clear and see through
    2) Turn off the vacuum and just let it drop back to 0HG, 0PSI, 0Bar, etc...
    3) Keep a very close eye on your mixing bucket to see when the thin film of epoxy left in it turns a little thicker than honey from it starting to polymerize.
    4) At the moment the epoxy starts to be able to stand up on its own (in the bucket), start the vacuum back up and leave it under vacuum until full cure.

    What this does is allow the epoxy on your part to get close to curing, but still in the range of vacuum bagging. This way, you cannot suck any air into your laminate to dry it out (because it's too viscous now) and you can really suck the laminate together nice and well.

    This technique saved my rudder from having dry spots today.

    Here are the photos...
     

    Attached Files:

  2. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 5,857
    Likes: 400, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 2489
    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Good save, CatBuilder!
     
  3. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    Thanks, Hoyt! Notice anything familiar in those pictures?? :)
     

  4. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 5,857
    Likes: 400, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 2489
    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Yes I do. How's it holding up?
     
Loading...
Similar Threads
  1. fairing guy
    Replies:
    12
    Views:
    984
  2. EngineeringEC
    Replies:
    13
    Views:
    1,006
  3. Florida Boat Guy
    Replies:
    15
    Views:
    2,093
  4. ber1023
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    1,118
  5. fallguy
    Replies:
    11
    Views:
    1,261
  6. John Slattery
    Replies:
    14
    Views:
    1,618
  7. Steve W
    Replies:
    33
    Views:
    2,214
  8. weldandglass
    Replies:
    1
    Views:
    870
  9. Chotu
    Replies:
    8
    Views:
    1,209
  10. weldandglass
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    1,148
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.