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Strip: wood shrinkage
By:Les Cheeseman
Date: 5/25/2011, 11:51 am

Has anyone experienced the following problem, Thoughts on a remedy sought.
I am building a Guillemot and have almost finished the woodwork.
I stopped building in November when the temperature dropped and since then I have moved house
with all that that entails. Ask Bill!!

I have just got back to building only to find that the sheer seam, which was hot glued together, has
opened up along both sides if the boat. It is a staple-less build but as far as I can tell, both deck and
hull are still tight to the forms all round. The gap is biggest in the middle of the boat, about 1/4" each side,
reducing steadily to nothing at stem and stern.

The only cause for this as far as I can see is wood shrinkage. We have had an exceptionaly dry start to the year,
with no measurable rain for the past two months, so the atmosphere has been quite dry as well.
All of the wood was dry when I was building but I recognise that there is always some moisture present.

Since the shape of both deck and hull seems fair, I am tempted to carry on and glass them both and see how
they fit after that. I could always make a thin fillet insert if the halves don't pull completely together.

I'm fairly relaxed about the problem but other thoughts would be appreciated if only to give it an airing.

Les C

Messages In This Thread

Strip: wood shrinkage
Les Cheeseman -- 5/25/2011, 11:51 am
Re: Strip: wood shrinkage
StephenHJ -- 5/25/2011, 12:58 pm
Re: Strip: wood shrinkage
Rob Macks / Laughing Loon CC&K -- 5/25/2011, 3:43 pm
Re: Strip: wood shrinkage
Les Cheeseman -- 5/26/2011, 2:04 pm