skin question

[mikevet]

I will have 1/4 inch luan as my outer shell on a standie teardrop. i am try to make skinning easy and fastest and cheaper (if possible). i was going to roll on a 2 part epoxy resin over the luan. i was only going to add a 2 inch strip of cloth at the seam between the side and top for strength and water seepage. top shell is luan as well. then paint, then cover the edge with bendable coping and butyl tape. is this a good option or is there better without using pmf, using resin/epoxy cloth on whole thing, aluminum or filon? i have 2 gallons of resin epoxy already.
if so, how many coats of epoxy resin? how dry does it need to be for additional coat? do i sand between coats or just after final coat?

 

[Tony Latham]

If you don't add a layer of 4-6 oz glass cloth, there's a fair chance the luan will check.

Tony

 

[mikevet]

What is checking?

 

[Pmullen503]

What is checking?

Splits in the wood due to expansion. It will happen with just resin and water will get in and rot and/or delamination will happen.

Using epoxy resin on anything other than end grain without cloth is a waste of money and time. Don't do it.

If you really can't handle using cloth, use latex paint and repaint every couple years and store your trailer under a tarp.

 

[Tom&Shelly]

Slightly off subject--or maybe not--I glassed and epoxied some quarter inch baltic birch while building our tear and messed something up that was not directly related to the epoxy and glass. Anyway, I've had a lot of that material in my scrap bin for a long time, and found it very useful for a variety of things. I've made drawer bottoms for our galley out of it, a control panel for a homemade hot wire cutter, templates for the router, etc.

After sanding the epoxy (I wet sand using 100 grit, by hand--Tony thinks I'm crazy), it has a good looking face, is very strong and easy to work with. (Then again, he knows me, so hand sanding may not be the only reason...)

A very useful material, and now that most of it is gone, I may have to make more just to keep on hand. Obviously has to be varnished or painted if the use is outdoors in the sun.

Tom

 

[Tony Latham]

What is checking?

Here's what will happen:

Wood sided trailer is having issues. Suggestions wanted