heat gun use?

[jlaprad]

Hello, I am building my first lapstrake epoxy boat, which is a caledonia yawl. I am hanging the sheer this week and have a question about removing glue "squeze out" mess on the inside. Is it ok to use a heat gut and scraper? I have heard it is but my instructor from a boat building class said not to. Who is right?http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh319/lapradjw/whoopdedoo/bow61.jpg

[StevenBauer]

Heat gun and scraper is fine. Did your instructor give any reasons not to?
The boat looks great.


Steven

[JimConlin]

What Steven said.

It's comforting to consider that the epoxy that's within the joint is insulated by the planking and does not experience the temperature that the material you're scraping off.

I like the clamping technique.

[Brian Palmer]

I've also used a heat gun and scaper on a ply lapstrake canoe that had 4 mm planking to remove drips. No problem.

Brian

[Thorne]

I'll guess that the instructor's reluctance to recommend the heat gun is based on two concerns, mostly directed at very new builders:

1. Outgassing of VOCs from the heated epoxy -- wear a respirator and/or work outdoors if you can.

2. Possible damage to the main epoxy bond and/or wood if overheated -- just use caution and the minimal amount of heat needed to get the drips.

Looks like a great boat -- more pics, please!

[Steve Lansdowne]

I found that a heat gun and a putty knife or similar works fine, but don't heat it more than you have to. A thick insulated (welders?) glove comes in handy, as your hand gets rather hot. Seems to me that the heat buildup on the putty knife does some of the work, not just the heat that the epoxy gets. On a related note, you can clean dried epoxy off tools by boiling them.