Can Fibreglass be invisible

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by JohnMarc, Mar 9, 2019.

  1. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    Location: Monroe WA

    ondarvr Senior Member

    The consolidation of the fibers tends to leave some strands a little dry, especially near either surface.

    These strands of glass will appear white.
     
    Dejay likes this.
  2. JohnMarc
    Joined: Feb 2018
    Posts: 128
    Likes: 7, Points: 18
    Location: Knysna South Africa

    JohnMarc <--- My ultimate goal

    Absolutely agree ..... I had to find out for myself.....I have tried almost every variance with varying degree of success, and now that I have come down to doing the real thing I am going for the hand layup. This of course raises one more question.... I am wanting to laminate (wood) both sides of the Lycell PVC foam. I will be doing the laminate on each side separately vacuum bagging at each stage, my question is should I be vacuum infusing the PVC foam first then doing each side separately .... the reason why I am asking this is that I cannot imagine a hand layup filling the very small holes in the Foam effectively bridging the two wood laminate one either side of the foam. I hope I made sense .....
     
  3. Blueknarr
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Location: Colorado

    Blueknarr Senior Member

    Much years ago, I was involved with a project which included wood veneers on foam cored panels. We tired many techniques. We found that including the veneer in the fabric layup and wet out was not cosmetically acceptable. We completed the panels structurally then applied and finished the veneer as separate steps. A few times we installed, tabbed and faired panels before veneering.

    Good luck
     
  4. JohnMarc
    Joined: Feb 2018
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    Location: Knysna South Africa

    JohnMarc <--- My ultimate goal

    Awesome many thanks Blueknarr for that, it is what I was leaning towards but somehow hearing from someone who was in a similar position echo my thoughts really helps. Your advice will be followed ....
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2019
  5. Blueknarr
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Location: Colorado

    Blueknarr Senior Member

    Following my advice ... now that's a scarry thought.

    Some of the looks we achieved
    • Continual grain around bullnosing. No edge banding that could eventually peal off.
    • Continual grain from horizontal to vertical
    The veneer laid in the boat was significantly more challenging than those laid in the workshop. How else to achieve continually across intersecting planes?
     
  6. JohnMarc
    Joined: Feb 2018
    Posts: 128
    Likes: 7, Points: 18
    Location: Knysna South Africa

    JohnMarc <--- My ultimate goal

    Ha ha May be scary but is appreciated. At the moment my "veneering" is only for relatively small pieces like the tables and part of the helm. Will post the results.
     
  7. Blueknarr
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Location: Colorado

    Blueknarr Senior Member

    I know others have successfully included veneer in the lay up. I found veneering post lay up much less stressful or frustrating.

    Show us pics of the final product
     
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  8. waikikin
    Joined: Jan 2006
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    Location: Australia

    waikikin Senior Member

    Just bag your veneer to the foam, best to mask off the face of veneer with some clear plastic so it doesn't get glued to whatever medium/shade cloth in the vac bag, if using ply will probably be ok, but veneer will bleed some glue though splits you cant see... squeezes down pretty good with just a couple psi difference.
    Jeff.
     
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  9. BrissoDamo
    Joined: Dec 2019
    Posts: 48
    Likes: 8, Points: 8
    Location: Brisbane

    BrissoDamo Junior Member

    The price of quality hardwood timbers will freak you right out...but what I can't understand is why isn't he casting it into resin, then buffing it up. must be weight requirements.
     

  10. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
    Posts: 2,684
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    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Yes, for the most part.
    Epoxy can be clearer however.
    Fun!
     
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