Hints on ANYTHING

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by the1much, Mar 30, 2008.

  1. the1much
    Joined: Jul 2007
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    the1much hippie dreams

    Alright guyz,,ta hell with having to go to 10 different threads to find a few hints about glassing, or painting, or anything else,,,so this thread should be titled
    " WE Have a FEW SECONDS,,Tell US What Ya Know",,more or less,,any "tricks" Faster Ways to do something,,things Ya Know is gonna happen after we do a "epoxy" job,,or warn newbies about airpockets,,or sagging,,any of that crap ;)
    But the FIRST HINT of "HOSTILITY" and there WILL be PROBLEMS ;)
    and THANK-YOU,,,i'd like to FILL this thread with EVERY bit of KNOWLEDGE,,and EXPERIENCES we ALL have had,,,and MAYBE 1 of "us" might learn something COOLZ hehe ;)
     
  2. tinhorn
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    tinhorn Senior Member

    One of my favorite tricks for removing excess resin in a layup was to use a paint roller (you can buy them at the dollar store). Just roll it all over the layup when you're done and it sops up the puddles and potential drips.
     
  3. TollyWally
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    TollyWally Senior Member

    I use visqueen for templates. Pin it where it needs to go, smooth out the wrinkles and waves, and use a sharpie pen to draw the lines. I then add all sorts of notes and arrows and measurements etc. You can see and mark everything under the template, ribs, wires, pipe etc. If it's really critical or expensive material I then make a second generation template out of masonite.

    I got turned on to this idea by the boat upholstery guys and now use it all the time. Fast, easy, pretty accurate and the notes help you not overlook all those obvious things that slip your mind when using patterns.
     
  4. Kaptin-Jer
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    Kaptin-Jer Semi-Pro

    I put spray painters out of business by rolling and tipping and save lots of money:p :D
     
  5. the1much
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    the1much hippie dreams

    only the bad ones hehe ;) :p
     
  6. rambat
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    rambat Member at large

    Glass molds

    You can make a quick mold out of anything or an exacting side cockpit side fiberglass panel for upholstering by fist covering the shape with shiny packing tape, glass on top of the tape and it pops off with ease.
     
  7. masalai
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    masalai masalai

  8. Kaptin-Jer
    Joined: Mar 2004
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    Kaptin-Jer Semi-Pro

    Not a Hint, but a wish for hint---I want to know where or who sells Stainless expansion bolts (like the kind you use in drywall) So that you can bolt through fiberglass into places where you can't get a nut on the bolt. Think about those 150 toe rail bolts that I had to tear the whole inside of my boat apart to get to!!
     
  9. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    I hate toe rails. For that reason.
     
  10. masalai
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    masalai masalai

    Make it of glass, foam form and glass over - then no leak problems - ever... and none of that rubbish teak to varnish/polish...

    The original Bertram's had the good philosophy - when one has finished fishing, hose it down and finish!!! Why make extra un-necessary work...
     
  11. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Flush deck is of course the way to go but I think he was refering to the alluminiun type with attachments down its length for various tackle to be attached.

    Again I would go for the flush deck approach and find some other method of attaching a boom preventer for instance.

    Bfore I make ANY hole in my boat I seriously consider if it is absalutely necessary.

    Those toe rails with a countersunk screws every 2 inches are just ridiculous. ----- Yacht designers??
     
  12. the1much
    Joined: Jul 2007
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    the1much hippie dreams

    i like toe rails,,,,just not ALL those screws,,its pose to be for safety,,just to let ya "know" your toe is at the edge,,,,my toe aint that strong,,,maybe 16 screws on a 60' would be o.k. for me,,hehe
    o.k.,,,this 1 should be on Grady's awl-grip thread,,,,,,when spraying,,use Vasoline around your mask to make an "air tight" seal,,alright,,time to go back to work,,hehe ;)
     
  13. Kaptin-Jer
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    Kaptin-Jer Semi-Pro

    Guys, Not just toe rails! Think about all those places that it takes two people to put in a hut / bolt, then think about how many times there is only you. and you have to dream up all sorts of ways to get the nut on (longer bolts with a vice grip above and the below the nut--) It can take 3 hours to put in one nut and bolt if you are by yourself. A stainless one sided bolting system needs to happen. Make it so!!
     
  14. tinhorn
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    tinhorn Senior Member

    T-nuts. Either embedded into a piece of oak laminated to the panel, or embedded into the panel itself, with a piece of mat holding it in place. Presto-zoomo - one-man bolting.

    Well, not so useful after the fact, I admit.
     

  15. masalai
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    masalai masalai

    Jeees Jer, - - How many people have said "stick it on" - use epoxy, or, whatever - better job, no holes, smarter finish. Don't forget little breaks for water to run out/away... SS bolts and such like are just asking for leaks and problems... There is an old old story about a farmer called "Hardway" and he always did it the hard way - standing up in a barb-wire canoe... (I hope a little bit of laughter helps the "medicine" go down...)
     
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