plug fairing

[gasdok007]

I was thinking about making a plug by covering plywood bulkhead/rib framing with thin plywood but the filling/fairing issue will be overwhelming. Has anyone tried to cover the surface of a plug with a somewhat flexible smoth surfaced material like formica or sheet vynyl flooring,or is there a specific product available for this purpose.?

[War Whoop]

Mica will leave a terrable profile on the Mold,It is hard to escape a Glassed Plug and Fariing compound/spray surfacer and the Hand Sanding..

The CNC'ed stuff still requires the spray and Lot's of hand sanding.. But again depends on what you are looking for.

[Thunderhead19]

There is always melamine board or......That crap board....made from sawdust and resin...whatever it's called. If you think you can get away with it-use it. Atlantis Yachts used it to make moulds for their cat hulls.

[gasdok007]

Originally Posted by War Whoop

Mica will leave a terrable profile on the Mold,It is hard to escape a Glassed Plug and Fariing compound/spray surfacer and the Hand Sanding..

The CNC'ed stuff still requires the spray and Lot's of hand sanding.. But again depends on what you are looking for.

checked out your cheetahcat website.Very cool indeed.I'm not sure what you mean when you say mica will leave a terrible profile.It seems to be bendable to the type of radis I need and has a slick surface.I know I cant avoid all hand sanding,butI can acheive fairly large smooth surfaced panels,I can avoid alot of it.

[War Whoop]

Originally Posted by gasdok007

checked out your cheetahcat website.Very cool indeed.I'm not sure what you mean when you say mica will leave a terrible profile.It seems to be bendable to the type of radis I need and has a slick surface.I know I cant avoid all hand sanding,butI can acheive fairly large smooth surfaced panels,I can avoid alot of it.

Mica is workable I am not disputing that point, what I am trying to say is the material does not give a surface nowhere close to a professionally sanded one... A couple reasons the material itself is not consistent and even with the best spray up on the adhesive/bond line there is still the oatmeal look at low-level. Plus during lay-up there are prerelease issues if one is not careful.

I am just very critical of Plug and Mold work; it is imposable to beat a guide coat job with a Trued Metal file and PSA Abrasive...

Each to his own, quick and dirty Mica or some other refinished material hands down will get you there.

[gasdok007]

I should mention that the moulded boat will not have gelcoat but will be an epoxy lay up(I can't Stand styrene),and will probably be primed and painted with an epoxy primer and urethane topcoat. Joint lines will have to be filled and faired. As for oatmeal- there are some very slick finished micas out there, and I wonder if I need a more mat finish to get tooth for the Primer?

[War Whoop]

Sorry thought you were using a different system..I meant Like a panel Job pulling finished sections..Anyway my Idea of finishing is a little different than most.. Like the nicest faired stuff at the Beach show..

[JR-Shine]

Hey Gasdok,

What are you building? We are right down the road (Vero).

Joel
Boatbuildercentral.com