I put a 1/2-strip of walnut on the shear of the deck of my Outer Island. After glassing, I used a block plane to clean up the edge for joining the 2 halves. In one 3-inch-long section of the outside of the deck the cloth separated from the walnut. The separation is only about 1/4" up the deck and about 3" long.

Did this happen due to wood choice (i.e. do hardwoods not bond as well due to more limited epoxy penetration) or application error?

I plan on bonding the insides of the shear, then going back and sanding the outside down to bare wood in that spot...

Thanks,

Dean