Different methods of laminating Plywood ?

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by gary1, Feb 3, 2007.

  1. gary1
    Joined: May 2006
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    Location: australia

    gary1 Senior Member

    Afternoon,
    I have been told of several different methods of laminating plywood (1) The first being to coat the ply with epoxy so that the first layer is saturated allow it to fully cure. Then lightly sand apply another coat of epoxy lay the fabric then wet it out. (2) The second being to coat the ply with epoxy and as soon as it becomes slightly tack free (green) apply the second coat and lay the fabric on and wet out. Apparently this method still allows for a strong chemial bond to still happen between the different coats of epoxy.
    (3)The third method being totally wet on wet, I dont have the skills or the experience to even attempt this method even though I have been told it is the best way to achieve the stongest bond between ply fabric and resin. But as I said it is way beyond my skill level as a total amatuer .
    So my question is out of the first 2 methods which will give me the strongest laminate all things being equal, any help on this would be appreciated.
    Thanks
    Gary
     
  2. boatbuilder.org
    Joined: Jan 2005
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    Location: Olympia Washington

    boatbuilder.org Junior Member

    What type/weight of fabric are you going to use?
    ---Joel---
     
  3. gary1
    Joined: May 2006
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    gary1 Senior Member

    G/Day Joel,
    The lamination schedule on the plans call for 2 layers of 880gram Biaxial 0-90 on the hull bottom and one layer of 880 gram Biaxial 0-90 up the sides. With the same schedule for the inside of the hull. The guy who I get my fabric from told me the 880grm fabric would be really hard for me to use especially trying to get it to go conform properly around corners , chines etc being an amatuer The N/A who designed the boat for me has said it is alright to use a lighter fabric as long as I end up with the same weight of fabric in the end. He's happy for me to subsitute 2 layers of 450 for 1 of 880
    So I'am going to use 450grm Biaxial 0-90 and just double up on it so instead of 2 layers of 880grm Biax I will end up with 4 layers of 450grm biax etc. I realise it will mean a lot more work but trying to handle 880grm fabric frightened the **** of me to be honest The fabric is going over 6mm ply.
    Gary
     
  4. boatbuilder.org
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    Location: Olympia Washington

    boatbuilder.org Junior Member

    I am not up on the gram/oz conversion so I do not know how thick it is, but I think if you should roll epoxy on the wood and go right over it with the biax and re-roll or squeegee the epoxy in. You are not trying to get the plywood saturated, but you are giving the biax a coat of epoxy on each side and a sticky surface to lay on. If you get the biax saturated, then there will be plenty of epoxy to saturate the plywood underneath. All layers at once would be a time saver, but it can be a lot of work so one layer at a time may be the wisest path.
    ---Joel---
     

  5. gary1
    Joined: May 2006
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    Location: australia

    gary1 Senior Member

    Thanks Joel,
    880grm approx 31oz, 450grm approx 16oz, I will most likely go with the first way you suggest wet the ply with epoxy then straight on with the Biax and then wet it out as you say. In the limited amount of laminating I have done I have followed a simillar path and it worked out ok. As far as trying to wet out 2 layers at once I reckon I would be stretching my luck in trying to get both layers evenly saturated with no air pockets between layers. So I'll just stick to one layer at a time, make take longer but in my situation the safest way to go. Thank's for your'e time joel I appreciate it.
    All the Best
    Gary
     
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