Cedar Strip Canoe Ep 8 - Fiberglassing the hull

[@TK-zf7sx]

Thanks for adding your "What I'd do differently" comments. I'm about to 'glass the outside of my canoe, and these sorts of tips help.

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

T K best of luck friend!

[@TK-zf7sx]

@@chronicwoodwork5466 - thanks!

[@tooljunkie555]

Looks AWESOME bro! Can wait to see the finished project

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Joe Basement Woodworking & DIY it’s coming along

[@tooljunkie555]

Chronic Woodwork what type of finish are gonna use? The epoxy or is there a special type?

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Joe Basement Woodworking & DIY so after the fiberglass and epoxy in this video, the final finish will be marine grade varnish which will need to be re applied every few years

[@christopherpena1028]

Hello Andy, I’ve been watching your videos for a while now. I’m taking on this project as my high school capstone. I was wondering how long or what were the dimensions of your fiberglass cloth. I see different ones, don’t know which to buy.

[@dinoilcagnolino3213]

When I built my 5 mtrs catamaran, I thinned the resin with denatured alcohol for the first coat, so to let the thinner epoxy penetrate the bear wood.

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Good idea. That just wasn’t a part of Canoe Craft as far as I remember.

[@kinniguy]

Thanks for sharing this is great stuff. Great advice on what to do and challenges. Is the Epoxy pretty safe to use? Did you take any safety precautions other than gloves? I only saw a respirator when you were sanding. Did you have ventilation? What were the room temps in your workshop? Thanks again

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Hey! So west systems epoxy is extremely low VOC (aka not much off gassing) I certainly wouldn’t huff it, but a small fan to keep the air moving migrated any smell as far as I could tell. Disclaimer* other epoxy products can be extremely toxic/caustic so please read their specific directions. I kept basement about 75 (or as close as I could get). Again, west system is pretty forgiving. The temperature will just impact the cure time, but it’s pretty negligible. We’re taking maybe 12-24 hours difference, and you shouldn’t be in THAT big of a rush on a project of this nature. Best of luck. Hope this helped! -andy

[@raymondbukaty3108]

Hey Andy, I have been watching your vids and am enjoying them. I also live in Missouri. What area are you from?

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Raymond Bukaty I”m originally from (and currently live) in Indiana. I was only in Missouri for a short time with the Army. Fort Leonardwood west of Rolla

[@garrettking5199]

what are you using for fiberglass cloth? looking at bear mountain, noahs, us composites etc.. cost seems all over the place

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Garrett - I am using the kit from Bear Mountain. This is my first and only canoe, so I cannot compare to anything from first hand experience unfortunately. I'd had to give advice based on anything other than experience.

[@garrettking5199]

@@chronicwoodwork5466 same boat. didnt know if bear mountain stuff was anything special. im using west systems so ill likely go with the same cloth from bm

[@serolagazat]

Hello Jason, I have a question. Have you ever stained wood before fiberglassing and epoxy'ing it? Do you think it would work?

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Serol Agazat I have no tried that. I think it it was totally cured it would be ok, but would definitely send an email to West Systems Epoxy first to ask their opinion. Also my name is Andy. But Jason sounds like a cool, knowledgeable dude

[@serolagazat]

Oops, 😬. I was trying to reach out to all canoe makers about my question I guess it was a copy paste error. Sorry Andy. I think you’re right. It would be better to consult with epoxy providers.

[@airwolf61970]

Should've used a torch to go after the bubbles

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

greg - the fiberglass cloth folding/bubbling/wrinkling is a far bigger challenge. Im not even sure if this epoxy is thick enough to get bubbles like a more typical epoxy pour.

[@airwolf61970]

Seems like a big job

[@gmbetts]

How much epoxy did you use?

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

Greg Betts not entirely sure how to answer (weight, pumps, etc). I think the easiest way is to say I purchased 2 cans of the 105b and 2 cans of the 207. After. Laminating the stems and epoxying the outside, I’ve still got a little bit left in each of my first cans. So I’ve still got one full can of each left over for the inside and hopefully a paddle or 2. I hope this helps -andy

[@johngoodell2775]

you get better saturation and strength if you put one coat of epoxy on the bare wood, then after it is just past tacky, put your cloth on and start epoxying the fabric. this way the bare wood will not pull epoxy out of the weave.

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

John Goodell maybe next time around! Thank you!

[@buckmudflap2346]

According to west systems, the preferred method is to put the cloth down dry, and wet it out just like Andy did here. Applying glass over wet epoxy can lead to glass floating above the wood, and wrinkles become tougher to get out.

[@johngoodell2775]

@@buckmudflap2346 Yeah you dont put glass over wet. As I said, just past tacky. Several notable boatbuilders that produce how to glassing instruction recommend putting the first coat of epoxy, wait until its tacky or just past tacky and rolling the glass out. I did it this way and its way better. This timing puts you out of the worry of blush but still a chemical bond. When you roll the cloth it is way easier to form into the hull and push out wrinkles as the slightly sticky coat grabs the cloth enough to hold it slightly. But the most important factor is that you are getting a more even absorbtion of resin in the weave. Raw wood sucks in resin unevenly depending on the grain etc. Precoating solves that and ensures a stronger glass shell.

[@zekehartmann3076]

Dude! You should absolutely be wearing a dust mask while sanding surfaces finished with epoxy. Seriously bad for your lungs. Build looks good beyond that!

[@kristianeugene2623]

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[@darielkenneth2571]

@Kristian Eugene yea, I have been using Instaflixxer for since november myself =)

[@robertbolding4182]

West systems is too expensive I won't use that brand I can get it for half cost somewhere else. It's good stuff there's nothing wrong with it they just charged too much money for it that's all

[@schlik1]

How much epoxy did you use?

[@chronicwoodwork5466]

schlik1 I’ve got some extra, but I bought2 gal. 105B epoxy with special coatings hardener for a clear finish. It’s expensive. bear Mountain boats sells a kit on their website.