Trimming fiberglass

[AP aroma]

Hi,

I'm considering doing a fiberglass tip to tip fin layup on a rocket, and then vacuum bagging it. I would be using a slow cure hardener by Fiberglast. I believe it is best to trim the wetted-out fiberglass cloth when it is at the "leather stage". My question is: when should the layup be taken out of the vacuum bag so it can be trimmed? If a person unseals the bag to check it, then it would have to be resealed, which would be messy. Another way to ask the question is: how long does the resin need to cure in a vacuum bag before it is cured enough to come out?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Keisling]

Wet out a scrap piece of fiberglass to use as a test piece. Leave your parts in the vacuum bag until your test piece is at the right leathery stage to trim.

 

[AP aroma]

Got it Dave, that makes perfect sense and that is what I will do.

Thanks,

Jim