sewn boats

[Gume Suarez]

I am building a small wooden boat,stitch and glue method. I am having some small problem filling the stitched parts in the inside of the boat.
I am using a mix of cabosil and epoxy.
The problem is that the mix sticks to the spatula, making it difficult to spread in and fill in the gap and holes.
Please send me available information that can help me solve this problem.
I am a susbcriber of WoodenBoats, Gume Suarez
:rolleyes:

[Don Maurer]

It sounds to me like you are letting the epoxy set up too long before spreading it. Try a slow setting epoxy or mixing smaller batches.

[Ian McColgin]

And use the plastic spatula.

[Stephen Hutchins]

My favorite way of getting the epoxy in the seam is to use a plastic sandwich bag and squeeze the epoxy out like you would decorate a cake. (If your into cake decorating of course) Another way I just thought of could be to pre-mix the epoxy and put it in a chaulking tub. If we are a pro builder and want to experiment, we could try keeping this pre mix in a refridgerator until ready to use, just like pre preg glass or carbon fiber. Hey, it sounds like I just came up with an idea that epoxy manufacturures could use. Or maybee a composites distributor. Just mail the check to my Bass Harbor PO Box!

[wyhjr]

Sounds like your epoxy/filler mix could be a bit too thick. I've been successful by using the consistency of peanut butter as a guide when mixing epoxy and fillers(wood flour,cabosil,etc.)

[FG]

How stiff is your peanut butter. I've seen some pretty stiff. Maybe think of it as stiff peaks in whipped cream or like toothpaste. I've used wood flour for a thickener with System 3 and just like making bread, when you are close, it doesn't take much more flour to make it too stiff.

[Aramas]

Yeah - sounds like it's too thick. You don't mix that stuff by measure but by adding the filler until you get the desired consistency. What you're after is when it just turns 'thixotropic', which is when it no longer sags due to gravity - ie hold a gob of it up on the spatula and if it sags add some more, when it just hangs there unmoving it's just right.

I would also recommend adding a small amout of Q-Cell/microballons/expanded quartz or whatever it's called in your part of the world. Add about 1 part for evey 4 or 5 parts cabosil (colloidal silica). It makes the mix look glossy and it it's much slipperier and easier to apply.

Using plasic bags is ok for very small amounts, but it's fiddly and makes it heat up and go off a lot quicker.

[fishing fool]

For my drift boat project the designer said to drill some small holes and slightly cinch the pieces into position with tie straps. once positioned tack with stiffer epoxy. Once it sets up fill in the fillet and smooth out.

The plastic baggie trick should work too. tongue.gif

I am starting my project this spring. :D

[Gume Suarez]

go to www.cuentosdemaribel.com/botedegume.htm (http://www.cuentosdemaribel.com/botedegume.htm) for my response!
Gume´s thanks to all who responded so far... (http://www.cuentosdemaribel.com/botedegume.htm)