Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass overhead?

We have had good luck by flowcoating the overhead first with a roller. Than lay
the fabric up dry and work it into the epoxy (polyester) While still green,
but not loose, recoat to fill. Sand/wash and recoat untill satisfied.

On 17 Mar 2004 09:29:27 -0800, (jsheesley) wrote:

Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass overhead?

Besides "avoid it like the plague"? Yes, but beware, it ain't a pretty
process.

Let's say you have a foredeck with a rotten, wet core. OK, cut
carefully from below with a Dremel cutting wheel so that you have
(ideally) a single piece of glass "bottom layer". This gets reused if
possible, or used as a template if not.

Grind, cut or pry off all soaked core material. Much of it will drop
on your head, which is why you wear a Tyvek jumpsuit, a hairnet and a
full plastic face shield. You do NOT want old mouldy core, bits of
ground up glass or fresh drops of catalyst in the old eyeballs. Tends
to affect pilotage.

Clean the area with an acetone wipedown. Measure the new core material
and dry fit the piece or pieces. Encapsulate said pieces (if marine
plywood, for instance) with epoxy. Let kick until tacky. Carefully
stick to underside of deck (top layer of glass). Have a prop with a
wax papered tip or end ready to prop into place.

Relax. have a beer.

Make thickened epoxy and trowel into the voids around the encapsulated
piece. Try to fill all voids as much as possible, and here's where
pre-wetted out strips of mat come in handy, acting as "tape" to keep
the thick goo in the groove and not on your face.

Use more epoxy on the cleaned up bottom glass layer you carefully set
aside. Stick to the now-adhered core piece. Leave be until tacky dry.
Add a second, wider layer of wetted out tape over the first layer, the
remaining "underdeck" surround, and the original cut-out. Cover in wax
paper and brace from below, and let it set up.

If you are a stickler, you can fill any little voids from above by
drilling small holes, injecting epoxy, and filling the holes with
something colour matched. Me, I figure if it doesn't flex and I can
step on it and mount cleats in it, it's plenty good.

Hope this helps. It's essentially what Don Casey says in Hull and Deck
Repair, but that's on the boat and I'm not.

R.

"rhys" wrote in message
...
On 17 Mar 2004 09:29:27 -0800, (jsheesley) wrote:

Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass
overhead?

Besides "avoid it like the plague"? Yes, but beware, it ain't a pretty
process.

I agree with the AVOID IT recommendations. I have done some core repairs
from below deck and learned a few lessons.

The best way to do it if you can, is to do the core repair from above. Leave
the interior glass alone and cut out sections of the topside deck.. Dig out
the bad core, glass in a new piece and glass over that, building everything
up to the original thickness.

Of course using this method, you will have to find a way to restore the non
skid pattern.. I'm still trying to figure a way to salvage the old patterns
and epoxy them back down onto the repair.. The boats I have worked on using
this method, had to have core repairs in numerous areas and needed new non
skiding anyway..


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I would try that, and I would try the opposite, wet out all layers,
starting with a sheet of vacuum bag type plastic, on a table. Roll it
up loosely, unroll on the over head, peel off plastic layer, then
squeegee. Of course, wet the overhead first.

And, I'd wear a hat.

WestlakeY wrote:

We have had good luck by flowcoating the overhead first with a roller. Than lay
the fabric up dry and work it into the epoxy (polyester) While still green,
but not loose, recoat to fill. Sand/wash and recoat untill satisfied.

Actually I would use a paint roller instead of a squeegee.

Jim wrote:

I would try that, and I would try the opposite, wet out all layers,
starting with a sheet of vacuum bag type plastic, on a table. Roll it
up loosely, unroll on the over head, peel off plastic layer, then
squeegee. Of course, wet the overhead first.

And, I'd wear a hat.

WestlakeY wrote:

We have had good luck by flowcoating the overhead first with a roller.
Than lay
the fabric up dry and work it into the epoxy (polyester) While still
green,
but not loose, recoat to fill. Sand/wash and recoat untill satisfied.

Jsheesley,

More helpful and accurate advice can be given if you give us some hint
what you are doing.

But, if you must work overhead, get help (professional - physiatric
maybe) be sure he has gloves too. Also, figure out if you can vacuum
bag the job. That just makes the whole job work out better.

Matt Colie - been doing this stuff awhile

jsheesley wrote:
Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass overhead?

Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass
overhead?

As per what jim said wet out the glass on plastic or peel ply then put up
and roll WITH the plastic still on when it's stuck up you can carefully
remove the plastic and finish rolling, I have used this method hundreds of
times and it works a treat u just gotta b carefull... and wear protection.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 12:27:38 -0800, "Steve" wrote:


"rhys" wrote in message
.. .
On 17 Mar 2004 09:29:27 -0800, (jsheesley) wrote:

Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass
overhead?

Besides "avoid it like the plague"? Yes, but beware, it ain't a pretty
process.

I agree with the AVOID IT recommendations. I have done some core repairs
from below deck and learned a few lessons.

The best way to do it if you can, is to do the core repair from above. Leave
the interior glass alone and cut out sections of the topside deck.. Dig out
the bad core, glass in a new piece and glass over that, building everything
up to the original thickness.

Of course using this method, you will have to find a way to restore the non
skid pattern.. I'm still trying to figure a way to salvage the old patterns
and epoxy them back down onto the repair.. The boats I have worked on using
this method, had to have core repairs in numerous areas and needed new non
skiding anyway..

I completely agree, but I don't have the money to get the top layer
repaired professionally, and the hassle below decks is worth from the
point of view of cosmetic integrity. I can easily carve away at the
top and not waste or spill a drop, but it isn't going to be pretty.
Watertight, smooth and stronger than factory new, yes. Pretty, no.
Matching 30 year old gelcoat is a mug's game. Might as well redo it
all, kill a summer and put Treadmaster over the lot.

Ew.

R.

wet the fabric out on wax paper and use the wax paper to lift it into
place...watch out for wax residue on subsequent coats..

Don E
"jsheesley" wrote in message
m...
Do you guys have any advice, tips or tricks for laying up fiberglass
overhead?