DaveH6
Xynole fairing
Picture is of the starboard topside. Concerned about the micro-balloon fairing compound sagging, I mixed the first batch of fairing compound with one part silica to four parts micro-balloon. No sagging, so as each batch was mixed I added less silica (this stuff is hard to sand). By the time I had finished this topside I used one part silica to eight parts micro-balloons and no sagging. The air temp was 80 degrees and I was applying a thin coat. I concluded that without silica, a thin first coat applied to the weave of Xynole, even on a vertical surface, is not going to sag .
The fairing mixture was dumped onto a small metal cooking sheet that I use as a hawk. In addition to slowing the curing of the mixture, the hawk is essential to getting the fairing mixture on the squeege in the proper shape and amount. It takes me about 10 minutes to mix and apply a batch. The epoxy is noticeably thicker by the time the batch is finished. Was it because the mixture was kicking off or had the micro-balloons absorbed additional epoxy?
When I did the port topside and bottom panels I added no silica and the only sagging was minor and as expected near the stem. . Air temperature was 75 degrees and I used Raka low viscosity epoxy. I mixed the epoxy and micro-balloons to a consistancy where the mixture slowly sagged off the mixing stick. I started applying the fairing around 5pm each day so the air temperature had begun to fall thus I had virtually no bubbles from expanding air under the compound.
With the weave of the Xynole partially filled in, I expect that subsequent coats will experience sagging issues and the learning curve starts over in regards to how much silica if any is necessary. I dread the upcoming sanding of the fairing compound.
About 25 years ago I built a plywood pram in a poorly ventilated basement. Being young and foolish, I didn't use a respirator when power sanding 24 hour old epoxy. The next morning after the sanding was completed, my body looked like a road map after a rash developed and then my eyes swelled closed. Family members reported that I looked like a frog. Ribet, ribet..... A doctor prescribed Prednisone which turned me into the Incredible Hulk thus family and cats fled when I approached.
As the years rolled by, my epoxy sensitivity seemingly went away but last week after applying the first coat of fairing compound on the Xynole, the following day I awoke with a puffy right eye. This got my attention and I will be upgrading my epoxy protection. Perhaps one never gets over a sensitivity to epoxy as it lurks in the body's immune system until the cumulative effect of a recent exposure gets past the tipping point.
Xynole fairing
Picture is of the starboard topside. Concerned about the micro-balloon fairing compound sagging, I mixed the first batch of fairing compound with one part silica to four parts micro-balloon. No sagging, so as each batch was mixed I added less silica (this stuff is hard to sand). By the time I had finished this topside I used one part silica to eight parts micro-balloons and no sagging. The air temp was 80 degrees and I was applying a thin coat. I concluded that without silica, a thin first coat applied to the weave of Xynole, even on a vertical surface, is not going to sag .
The fairing mixture was dumped onto a small metal cooking sheet that I use as a hawk. In addition to slowing the curing of the mixture, the hawk is essential to getting the fairing mixture on the squeege in the proper shape and amount. It takes me about 10 minutes to mix and apply a batch. The epoxy is noticeably thicker by the time the batch is finished. Was it because the mixture was kicking off or had the micro-balloons absorbed additional epoxy?
When I did the port topside and bottom panels I added no silica and the only sagging was minor and as expected near the stem. . Air temperature was 75 degrees and I used Raka low viscosity epoxy. I mixed the epoxy and micro-balloons to a consistancy where the mixture slowly sagged off the mixing stick. I started applying the fairing around 5pm each day so the air temperature had begun to fall thus I had virtually no bubbles from expanding air under the compound.
With the weave of the Xynole partially filled in, I expect that subsequent coats will experience sagging issues and the learning curve starts over in regards to how much silica if any is necessary. I dread the upcoming sanding of the fairing compound.
About 25 years ago I built a plywood pram in a poorly ventilated basement. Being young and foolish, I didn't use a respirator when power sanding 24 hour old epoxy. The next morning after the sanding was completed, my body looked like a road map after a rash developed and then my eyes swelled closed. Family members reported that I looked like a frog. Ribet, ribet..... A doctor prescribed Prednisone which turned me into the Incredible Hulk thus family and cats fled when I approached.
As the years rolled by, my epoxy sensitivity seemingly went away but last week after applying the first coat of fairing compound on the Xynole, the following day I awoke with a puffy right eye. This got my attention and I will be upgrading my epoxy protection. Perhaps one never gets over a sensitivity to epoxy as it lurks in the body's immune system until the cumulative effect of a recent exposure gets past the tipping point.