skinning decisions

[mikevet]

i am at a point i need to to make final decisions for skinning. I am building a standie tear drop out of wood. choices are resin and fiberglass cloth, filon, frp. i am trying to do "easy". i've made one camper with resin and fiber glass. i wouldn't say it was easy. lots of sanding and working with resins is a pain. fiber glass cloth gets everywhere etc. if i go with filon or frp, how do i join the the sheets to make it look good and also water proof. my sides are 6 foot tall and camper is 11.3' long.

 

[Tony Latham]

lots of sanding and working with resins is a pain.

Polyester or epoxy?

I find sanding epoxy/fiberglass with random-orbital to be easy-peasy and it shouldn't take much sanding.

Tony

 

[mikevet]

2 part resin. Not sure if polyester or epoxy. How can you tell the difference?

 

[Tony Latham]

Not sure if polyester or epoxy. How can you tell the difference?

Well, I don't mean to be a wise guy, but it'll say on the label. With polyester, you add drips of liquid out of a small container. With epoxy, it's usually a 2:1 mix.

Poyester resins don't work great for bonding with wood.

Tony

 

[Pmullen503]

2 part resin. Not sure if polyester or epoxy. How can you tell the difference?

Polyester resin has a very strong smell. The whole neighborhood knows when you are working with it and your garage stinks for week.

 

[mikevet]

Using epoxy. I looked at label as instructed.

Is this preferred skin? It doesn’t seem anyone has an answer about joining filon or frp panels.

 

[KCStudly]

Look for hydroplane racing boats on this site. There was a guy that worked for one of the major racing teams and he built his large standie TD using filon. Can't remember names ATM.

 

[KCStudly]

Atomic (Michael).

 

[KCStudly]

The Astroliner build.

 

[Tony Latham]

Is this preferred skin?

If you ask this question on a wooden boat-building forum, it is. But here? There are a lot of options that work well.

But nothing seals wood like epoxy/fiberglass.

Tony