ThirstyBarbarian
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- Feb 11, 2013
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Because the fins are very pointy and long, I decided I wanted to try fiberglassing them. Honestly, I'm not sure how well I ended up protecting the very pointiest parts, as you will see, but the process was interesting because I had never done it before.
I got all the laminating supplies from a local shop that sells this stuff, mostly to local manufacturers and people who build aircraft. They were not at all customer friendly and not about to give any kind of advice for fear of liability issues, but they did have the things I needed, and I had waited too long to be ordering things online.
I began by cutting out pieces of the 5.7 oz glass to match the fin size.
I also cut out pieces of the other materials. Below in the front is the perforated release film that lets excess laminating epoxy escape and is easy to peel from the cured laminated surface. Next is the breather cloth that absorbs the excess epoxy. And in back is the Foodsaver bag material I used for vacuum bagging. I got a Foodsaver from a local thrift store for $5.99. A roll of the bagging material cost more than the Foodsaver itself!
I wetted out the wood with laminating epoxy, laid the glass cloth on top, and wetted it out a bit more.
Put a piece of release film over the wetted parts.
Put a piece of breather cloth on top of that.
Once both sides are done as above, slide the whole sandwich into the Foodsaver bag, turn on the vacuum and seal it.
I got all the laminating supplies from a local shop that sells this stuff, mostly to local manufacturers and people who build aircraft. They were not at all customer friendly and not about to give any kind of advice for fear of liability issues, but they did have the things I needed, and I had waited too long to be ordering things online.
I began by cutting out pieces of the 5.7 oz glass to match the fin size.
I also cut out pieces of the other materials. Below in the front is the perforated release film that lets excess laminating epoxy escape and is easy to peel from the cured laminated surface. Next is the breather cloth that absorbs the excess epoxy. And in back is the Foodsaver bag material I used for vacuum bagging. I got a Foodsaver from a local thrift store for $5.99. A roll of the bagging material cost more than the Foodsaver itself!
I wetted out the wood with laminating epoxy, laid the glass cloth on top, and wetted it out a bit more.
Put a piece of release film over the wetted parts.
Put a piece of breather cloth on top of that.
Once both sides are done as above, slide the whole sandwich into the Foodsaver bag, turn on the vacuum and seal it.