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Fear of Fairing
By:Richard Boyle
Date: 2/1/2001, 6:37 pm

Not really, but I have a couple of questions. All the stripping is complete on my Guillemot (first time builder) and it is ready for fairing.

1. Given my less than perfect first time workmanship, using the rolling bevel method, and variation in the thickness of the strips, there are some ridges to level between strips. I’m not too concerned about the flat or convex areas where a plane then hand sanding with a longboard should work fine, but would like some ideas on what works well for initial fairing in concave areas. I tried a rounded spokeshave on some scraps with less than satisfactory results, although I really don’t know how to use the tool yet. Should I round the bottom of a blockplane as Nick suggests in his book? Has anyone on the board tried this and if so did you mutilate a good quality plane or just a cheapy? How about other tools such as an ROS, paint scraper, or belt sander?

2. I have done some decorative stripping on the deck with walnut and pine, which runs diagonally to the main cedar stripping (similar to Ben Staley’s). I would like to know what method of fairing has worked for others on areas like this due to the strips running in different directions and varying hardness. I think a plane would make a mess. Would hand sanding with a longboard be the best method for this?
Thanks, Richard

Messages In This Thread

Fear of Fairing
Richard Boyle -- 2/1/2001, 6:37 pm
Re: Fear of Fairing
Richard Boyle -- 2/4/2001, 3:31 pm
Re: Fear of Fairing
Eric Schade (shearwater boats) -- 2/2/2001, 6:28 pm
Curved Planes
Mike Scarborough -- 2/4/2001, 10:40 am
Re: Fear of Fairing
Dwight -- 2/1/2001, 9:14 pm
Re: Fear of Fairing
Ben Staley -- 2/1/2001, 8:43 pm
Re: Fear of Fairing
George Cushing -- 2/1/2001, 7:35 pm