Hi I think I may also be missing something I have done 3 canoes and 1 kayak with almost no staples. I just glue the strips to the station with hot glue. It leaves the inside a little ugly but it is anyway, just use a paint scraper to take all the glue ,hot melt and squeese out, off. Just tap the moulds with a hammer and the hot glue fails, no tareout on the cedar and little damage to the moulds. Gary

> Hi All,

> I am in the initial stages of making a Guillemot - forms, strongback,
> cutting strips, excreta.

> I would like to get some comments about stapleless construction. I know it
> can be done - I am trying to decide if, for my first stripper, I should
> attempt this construction or not.

> Putting in staples to hold the wood in position for 30 minutes while the
> glue sets and then having to remove them - leaving all those holes - is
> something that I would rather avoid if there is a practical alternative.

> I was thinking of using 2" binder clips to keep the strips aligned
> between stations. To keep the strips tight and against the forms, some
> sort of clamping or "hold down" (elastic cord or rope &
> weight) at each station.

> Regular glue with strategically located dabs of hot-melt glue for the main
> construction and maybe some 5-minute epoxy for the higher stressed areas.
> Might even resort to some steam bending to pre-shape some of the
> "extreme strips".

> I recently saw an advertisement for "90-second epoxy" that I
> have to look at - might be real useful in stressful situations.

> I'd appreciate you sharing some of your experiences - positive or negative
> on stapleless construction.

> Thanks

> Hank