Leaks wrote:


.....maybe my "foam is difficult to work with" comment was a mistake.

But I do like plastic honeycomb core a lot better than sheet foam, in
general,
for a variety of reasons. Substantially better compression strength
and durability is one such reason. Honeycomb core is easier to dovetail
together too, in order to make extra-wide or extra-long panels, prior
to
the actual layup.

For panels used to make seat tops and/or dory bottom panels,
an equivalent amount of fabric and resin, applied over honeycomb core,
makes a stiffer, stronger panel than the same layup applied over foam.
......in my experience anyway. I'd call it better stuff.

When it comes to hull foam, there is Airex and foams that when they
grow up want to be Airex, IMHO.

Same can be said about Divinycell for decks.

After that, it is a whole different world.

BTW, must admit that I'm not up to speed on CoreCell as of yet.

Lew

Lew Hodgett wrote:
Leaks wrote:


.....maybe my "foam is difficult to work with" comment was a mistake.

But I do like plastic honeycomb core a lot better than sheet foam, in
general,
for a variety of reasons. Substantially better compression strength
and durability is one such reason. Honeycomb core is easier to dovetail
together too, in order to make extra-wide or extra-long panels, prior
to
the actual layup.

For panels used to make seat tops and/or dory bottom panels,
an equivalent amount of fabric and resin, applied over honeycomb core,
makes a stiffer, stronger panel than the same layup applied over foam.
......in my experience anyway. I'd call it better stuff.

When it comes to hull foam, there is Airex and foams that when they grow
up want to be Airex, IMHO.

Same can be said about Divinycell for decks.

After that, it is a whole different world.

BTW, must admit that I'm not up to speed on CoreCell as of yet.

Lew

Lew,

Don't try CoreCell - you'll never go back. It's 20% more expensive
and much better. You'll not want to use anything else. It machines
beautifully with sander/grinder/router with rebates for overlaps.
It's easy to thermoform. It doesn't offgas like the PVC foams when
post curing. It's way more ductile than the rigid PVCs but not as
flexible as Airex. Very damage tolerant to slamming like Airex.
Airex isn't used that much these days because its shear strength isn't
as good.

If you look at what custom high end sailboat builders use, Corecell is
the #1 choice.

Evan Gatehouse