"Glass" Finish with fibreglass

[J. A.Tones]

About 40 years ago I worked for a fibreglass outfit where among other things we "glassed" a bunch of runabouts in the 20 ft range. The final coat of poly resin was applied under a very tightley stretched film of plastic sheet. This sheet was similar that what is used to cover perserved food when canned in jars. We would pull the plastic as tight as possible taping all around the edges and then wet it. When it dried it would be as tight as a drum. The resin was then poured under the sheet and rolled around to eliminate any bubbles. The end result was an absolutely glass like surface which was lightly buffed and waxed. This process was used both with color and clear and boy what a sight when it was a nice mahogany hull done in clear. Looked great and seemed to stand up to the weather quite well.
Question - is anyone using this sort of method for finishing small craft anymore??

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Now wait a minute. You mean you lay the final coat down first, then stretch the plastic sheet tightly over it? I cant see putting the sheet down first then puting the final coat of resin under it.

[J. A.Tones]

Well maybe you can't see it but that is what was done - it went by the trade name off Cello-Finish.
Sorry but maybe you need new glasses <grin>

[CDN Woodie]

I'm no expert...but I'd have to agree with Mr. Hamilton.

[Tom Lathrop]

I saw photos of this process in Yachting at that time. I've never seen the finished product though. My own attempt at doing this resulted in far too many bubbles to make it work for me. From a few feet away it looked perfect but, up close, there were many small bubble craters that I could not get out. They were extremely difficult to fill too. I'd like to see it done by someone who has had success with the method.