REFLECTOR: What would you do - not do?

[Richard Riley]

At 03:18 PM 2/26/2006, you wrote:
Interesting. What kind of layup did you use this for? You wouldn't use
>for something like say the wing skins would you? Seems like it'd have
>issues with getting the triax fibers straight but what do I know.

I used it mostly for BID tapes, but I took it one step further.

Start out with a sheet of HDPE on your table, 1/8" thick.  The 
plastics stores sell this as a cutting surface.

Put down a layer of 4-6 mil plastic.  Lay out your fiberglass on it, 
dry, 2 or 3 plies at a time.  Wet it out with a squeegee and grooved roller

Cover with a sheet of aluminum foil.  Cut strips the right size and 
shape with an Olfa cutter.  Pick up your tape sandwich, peel off the 
plastic and leave the aluminum foil.

Brush the corner where you're putting the tape with epoxy, fillet 
with micro.  Put the tape in place.  Wet your gloved finger with a 
little epoxy, rub the aluminum foil (the wet epoxy makes your finger 
slippery.  If you're going around a complex curve, the foil will 
wrinkle to take on the right shape, the glass will distort underneath it.

Peel the foil off, stipple with a brush where needed.