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Re: Strip: careful caulking?
By:Ian Cummins
Date: 3/15/2012, 1:05 pm
In Response To: Strip: careful caulking? (robert l)

I taped my first attempt at an epoxy fillet and it proved more trouble than it was worth. Since the idea is to have the fillet taper out to zero, the tape can leave an edge when removed. Also, it needs to be removed while the material is wet or removing the final bits of tape can be difficult.
Lately, I've been mixing a small batch of very thick epoxy (wood dough for brown, talc for milky white) and forcing the mix into a plastic syringe with a small flat stick. Then I snip the opening to about 1/8" and use it like a caulk gun. Slow steady pressure is the key to a nice even bead and you can do a final shaping with your gloved finger. The syringe just gets the mix in the corner without a lot of fussing. They are available at my Ace Hardware and possibly a drug store.

I suppose caulk will work instead of epoxy but it won't be as strong and could require maintenence down the road.

Ian

: I would like to start by thanking everybody in the boat building
: community for sharing all their great tips and ideas. I recently
: tried Robs technique for a good wet out and I use much less
: epoxy and get the job done so fast I'm left wondering what I
: left out. Also Val has some great new ideas for glassing along
: the seam of the deck and hull as well as seat construction. I
: have been following this site and reading whatever I can find
: and I have been able to make a much nicer boat than my last. I
: bet Ill be perfect in another decade or so.

: I am installing my bulkheads soon and I am going to use a
: rubberized, colored caulking to secure the 1/8" ply. I am
: pretty messy at this type of application and was hoping someone
: had a great way to make a clean line of caulking. The ply is not
: tight fitting so I will need to fill slightly around the edge
: and of course the inside has rough glass weave, having only wet
: out and added a thin fill coat. I will take care to place a nice
: bead but since I think a mess will happen I plan to tape off
: about a quarter inch along the inside hull and also around the
: bulkhead so I can use a finger or squeegie to form a fillet. Any
: good Ideas?

: Robert

Messages In This Thread

Strip: careful caulking?
robert l -- 3/15/2012, 1:23 am
Re: Strip: careful caulking?
Bill Hamm -- 3/15/2012, 2:37 am
Re: Strip: careful caulking?
Bill Hamm -- 3/15/2012, 2:38 am
Re: Strip: careful caulking? *PIC*
Simeon -- 3/15/2012, 5:41 am
Why are you using caulking?
Brian Nystrom -- 3/15/2012, 6:34 am
Re: Why are you using caulking?
John Abercrombie -- 3/15/2012, 1:31 pm
Re: Strip: careful caulking?
Ian Cummins -- 3/15/2012, 1:05 pm
Re: Strip: careful caulking?
John Abercrombie -- 3/15/2012, 1:25 pm
Re: Strip: careful caulking?
Kevin McAtee -- 3/16/2012, 2:47 am