Question: 17 ounce (no mat) biax, over mat with polyester?

Hi Guys,

I'm getting ready to put a new cockpit into my sailboat using polyester. I'm laminating up some full size 4x8 sheets and use it like plywood. I cut down my last roll of 1708 to fiberglass in some toe rails on another job, so it is no longer a full 50 inches...

I'm curious if there are any any reasons not to use 17 ounce with no mat backer over a layer of wet mat, other than its going to make a big mess?

I have a roll of 1700 biax (no mat), a roll of 3/4 ounce mat, and a roll of 1 1/2 mat and don't really want to buy 1708 just for this job, unless 1700 can't be used with poly even if bedded down into mat.

Thanks

Zach

 

It shouldn't make a mess. You can laminate the fabric to the mat. If you use a finished surface to lay the laminate (formica) it will have a nice finish that will require little work.

 

You can use the 1700 with a separate layer of mat, putting the two together in one product is just for convenience.

 

Thanks for the replies, I had never heard of a reason not to do it... but also never heard of anyone doing it either so didn't know if it was kosher. Grin.

Thanks,

Zach

 

Typically, it's an alternating mat/roving laminate so the interlaminte bonds are good. Depending on your schedule, you'll need a lot of material to work like plywood (self supporting, stiff, strong and fairly light). Used in this fashion, you'll likely need a core (foam, honeycomb, etc.), to keep weight down and dramatically improve stiffness.

 

Yup, I have some 3/4 divinycell I'm going to use... just giving it a go with polyester instead of epoxy, that I'm much more familiar with.

Thanks,

Zach