REFLECTOR: What would you do - not do?

[Chuck Harbert]

In addition to Ron's advice, I learned a couple other tricks from an expert 
Velocity builder that worked we'll for me that you might want to add to your 
list. (See comments below)


Ron Brown wrote:
4 - There's a lot of neat tricks for working with fiberglass and epoxy.  I
picked up several during a 2 hour Sun-n-Fun fiberglass workshop put on by
SportAir.  Like:


(I went to some other fiberglas workshops as well, but really learned the 
most from visiting the Velocity factory (then it was Velocity West in CA). 
Afterwards, I learned a lot from a professional who had built several 
Velocity's)

(Before we'd apply any glass, we mixed up a small amount of epoxy with fine 
microglas and cabosil until it was like stiff peanut butter, then squeeged a 
thin layer onto the surfaces to be glassed. When you lay on the glass, it 
sticks imediately, but can still be moved, plus the bond is very strong. 
This also works great for sealing your fuel tanks.)

    b - put your dry cloth on a sheet of plastic vinyl.  You can lay up 4-6
pieces of cloth at one time.  Pour the epoxy on each layer - spread it out
lightly with a squeegee.  Then put a sheet of plastic on top.  Now use a
squeegee to work the epoxy into the cloth.  When the cloth is thoroughly wet
out, you can squeeze out the excess ( not too much).  Now you can pick up
the plastic/fiberglass, remove one side and stick it in place.  Remove the
top sheet of plastic, and apply peel ply.

(Another trick that I learned is to use a fine marker pen on the bottom 
plastic to outline the pieces of glass that you need for the layups. Make 
sure you layup on the non-ink side, so it doesn't bleed into your layup. 
When you wet out the glass make sure the glass extends over the marked 
lines. After squeeging out all the excess epoxy, turn it over, and cut along 
the marked lines. Makes beautiful straight line edges, plus you can label 
and remember where each piece goes.)