Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[adamD98]

Afternoon all, hope your all well.

 I'm just looking for any recommendation for glass cloth/sheet, i.e. suppliers worth looking at. Much appreciate any help or pointers in the right direction. 

[Ian K]

Hi Adam,

These people are very good, and kind of on your doorstep!

http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/

Regards

Ian

[adamD98]

Thanks Ian  appreciate that.

 What do you folks generally use weight wise... 48g sounds alright to me but I'm new to using this cloth!

[Subculture]

Depends on what you are planning to do with it. There are different weights and different types of woven cloth, and they have their various strengths and weaknesses.

[adamD98]

I have several applications need doing. 1 on the inside of a hull which I just want to strengthen/add thickness too, and the other is a large refurb on the outside of a ply hull...said hull is 16ft long!

[Subculture]

Okay. Such a large hull is beyond my own experience, is this a model boat?  You will need thicker cloth than 48g. Also bear in mind the resin system you use. Epoxy works better with cloth, especially if you will be using many layers as it's a better adhesive than polyester, and thus the risk of delamination between layers is pretty much eliminated. The snag with epoxy is cost and curing, it's much more expensive than polyester, and you need a warm environment for it it to cure well.

You could also consider chopped strand matt with glass tissue on top to smooth out the finish. This works best with polyester resin, and will be fairly inexpensive.

[adamD98]

It most certainly is a model. It is the Type 45 destroyer at 1/32nd. It needs a good refurb and waterproofing before it sails again unfortunately!

[Subculture]

Is the hull made of wood?

[adamD98]

Certainly is

[Subculture]

Okay, so a layer of glass cloth on the inside, and one on the outside would add enormous strength and totally waterproof the hull. You shouldn't need to go thick, as the wood acts as a sandwich, and thus you get a very strong composite. Something like 8-10oz cloth should be adequate, and i would be enclined to go for a twill weave, as it drapes well.

[adamD98]

Very much appreciate that advice, it is certainly taken on board and I will let you all know how I get on! It's a fairly big project and I have to remove the existing paint first!

[captain bligh]

Hi Adam
If you give the plywood a coat of accelerator first if your using polyester resin will help it stick a lot better
Mike

[adamD98]

Many thanks for the tip Mike, much appreciate it.

[Arrow5]

 Application of polyester resin and chopped strand glass is a quicker way if you can find a friendly contractor that uses the chopper-gun technique, septic tank maker for example or roofing panel maker. Then an application of finish gel-coat to give smooth surface in correct R N colour. I would only use resin on the inside without glass.

[warspite]

Just hope the engine is up to spec, don't want to have to lay it up if you under spec it - seems all 45's are problematic in this regards  - just joking.

[adamD98]

Thanks chaps, again the advice is much appreciated. I have plenty of paint, light weather works grey to be exact which is the paint I use on all my RN warships.

  Yes fortunately this is the only T45 without power issues, perhaps she and Duncan's carrier can be called upon to fire water balloons at the encroaching enemy ... it's about the only defence we have left!