Boat Building Forum

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Re: Material: Update on Spectra
By:Mike Savage
Date: 10/24/2009, 8:08 am
In Response To: Re: Material: Update on Spectra (Brian Nystrom)

: The basics are that a flame is played over the surface of the plastic to
: "activate" it, which makes plastics like polyethylene much
: easier to bond to. I don't think I'd even consider it for Spectra cloth,
: since: A) I'm not sure it would be helpful
: and
: B) The likelihood of burning a hole in the skin is quite high.

I'd be very careful about flaming spectra. I used spectra fishing line as lashings and found that 'burning' the end to spot fraying doesn't work the same as dacron or nylon line. Spectra line doesn't melt, it frizzes into a hard ball that can crumble. If that makes sense.

A hot air gun might do a better job than flame if there's temperature control on the gun and set below the melt/flash point of spectra.

Mike Savage
South West Cork

Messages In This Thread

Material: Spectra anyone...?
Johnathan Akers -- 10/21/2009, 11:05 pm
G/flex and Spectra
Sam McFadden -- 10/22/2009, 1:02 pm
Re: Material: Spectra anyone...?
frankp -- 10/22/2009, 12:24 pm
Material: Update on Spectra
Johnathan Akers -- 10/22/2009, 11:58 am
Re: Material: Update on Spectra
Mike Bielski -- 10/22/2009, 5:42 pm
Re: Material: Update on Spectra
Robert N Pruden -- 10/23/2009, 11:26 am
Re: Material: Update on Spectra
Brian Nystrom -- 10/23/2009, 6:19 pm
Re: Material: Update on Spectra
Mike Savage -- 10/24/2009, 8:08 am
Re: Material: Update on Spectra
Johnathan Akers -- 10/22/2009, 6:15 pm
Re: Material: Update on Spectra
Wesley Ewell -- 10/22/2009, 12:43 pm
Re: Material: Spectra anyone...? *LINK*
Chris Sperry -- 10/22/2009, 10:40 am
Re: Material: Spectra anyone...?
Johnathan Akers -- 10/22/2009, 12:06 pm
Re: Material: Spectra anyone...?
Chris Sperry -- 10/22/2009, 12:50 pm
Re: Material: Spectra anyone...?
Bill Hamm -- 10/22/2009, 12:51 am