kzimmerman
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- Mar 20, 2013
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I thought that some of you on here might like to know a bit about different "resins" that I have used to fiberglass things, and a new one that I've never tried. I'm building a Cosmic Interceptor, And I'm concerned about the fins, as they are big, with very little joint area = breakage. So, I set about fiberglassing the fins into place, but couldn't decide how I wanted to do it. I took 3 pieces of balsa about 3x4 inches, and some junk BT that I had laying around. I scratch build a lot, have amassed a large collection of random BT. I glued the fins on using either titebond 2 or 5 minute epoxy, depending on the laminating resin used. I used 3/4 ounce cloth, from fin tip to fin tip, including all around the BT. Here's the resins, with some observations.
1.Thinned Titebond 2, approximately 75/25 titebond 2/water. It was difficult to work with, as it did not want to easily wet out the cloth, and it tended to drag the cloth around as you squegged it. I believe this was due to the surface starting to tack up before the wood/cloth joint. I also noticed after a 8 hour window of "drying" that it wanted to delaminate at the fin/tube joint. I'm gonna let it "dry" overnight, or cure, don't know the window for either. Finishing it looks to be moderately difficult, and weight wise it's in the middle.
2. 5 minute epoxy thinned 75/25 with alcohol. Have to move fast! Cured up quick, layed up easy, doesn't want to delaminate. Appears to be the strongest so far, but I'm gonna let the other ones sit for a while before I pass judgement on this, as they are both air dry. Finishing appears to be be fairly easy, sanding a little and then primer. Negative is weight. I'll try to use a proper laminating resin on the actual rocket (I think theres enough west systems left).
3. Polycrylic. Foam airplane trick, strong but much lighter than epoxy. Seems Fairly strong, but letting it dry some more to see if it gets better. Easy to finish, a very small amount of sanding and primering. This was the easiest of the 3 to laminate, wet out the cloth very easy, squeegeed out to a very even surface. My favorite so far, assuming that it is strong enough.
Please note, I didn't have an FFF on hand, so didn't try that.
More results pending the finishing of my morning coffee. Can't make any kind of qualitative strength measurements before the consumption of an adequate amount of coffee!
1.Thinned Titebond 2, approximately 75/25 titebond 2/water. It was difficult to work with, as it did not want to easily wet out the cloth, and it tended to drag the cloth around as you squegged it. I believe this was due to the surface starting to tack up before the wood/cloth joint. I also noticed after a 8 hour window of "drying" that it wanted to delaminate at the fin/tube joint. I'm gonna let it "dry" overnight, or cure, don't know the window for either. Finishing it looks to be moderately difficult, and weight wise it's in the middle.
2. 5 minute epoxy thinned 75/25 with alcohol. Have to move fast! Cured up quick, layed up easy, doesn't want to delaminate. Appears to be the strongest so far, but I'm gonna let the other ones sit for a while before I pass judgement on this, as they are both air dry. Finishing appears to be be fairly easy, sanding a little and then primer. Negative is weight. I'll try to use a proper laminating resin on the actual rocket (I think theres enough west systems left).
3. Polycrylic. Foam airplane trick, strong but much lighter than epoxy. Seems Fairly strong, but letting it dry some more to see if it gets better. Easy to finish, a very small amount of sanding and primering. This was the easiest of the 3 to laminate, wet out the cloth very easy, squeegeed out to a very even surface. My favorite so far, assuming that it is strong enough.
Please note, I didn't have an FFF on hand, so didn't try that.
More results pending the finishing of my morning coffee. Can't make any kind of qualitative strength measurements before the consumption of an adequate amount of coffee!