I'm getting ready to do the glassing part of the Ole' 23 T.What I need to know iz:Inner body to wood floor.what steps should I take while doing this? cloth first? matt first,then cloth,then matt or vicey versey or HOW TO all together ?.Of course I want it to be VERY STRONG but not brittle.Need to know number of layers of what type of glass and in what order they should be.When & WHAT to sand /waiting time for next layer.......etc. THANX ...TUK
--
Where there'z a will.... There'z a RELATIVE !!

What I did when I channeled my '29 was as follows:
1. Make sure the body is secure because it has a twist in it, you're stuck with a twist in it because the floor will add a lot of rigidity.
2. I used three layers of matte. Each successive layer I overlapped the previous one by at least an inch.
3. After you complete worth on the inside and the resin has dried for a day, turn it over and do the bottom side. I used fiberglass cloth to over the bottom and used only one layer. I did give it a second coat of resin over the cloth once the cloth has started to set.
3. If you have to layer the matte or cloth into the sides of the body at the bottom, make sure you grind away all of the gel coat so the matte/cloth has matte to adhere to. It will not want to stick to the gel coat.
4. I did not use cloth on the inside as the inside was not going to be seen. But the procedure in using a mold is gel coat followed by cloth, followed by matte (or chopper gun in many cases).
--
Lynn
'32 3W

I have abs of steel--they're just covered with a layer of foam padding.

Good advice, Lynn. To add another point, the resin is NOT the strength of the fiberglass. (read some how to sites) Try to squeez as much resin out of the mat as you possibly can. The strength is in the fibers. And all these years I poured a glop on top!
--
docchevy Remember Physics explains everything!

I found it to be very important to use close as possible to the exact amont of hardener..I usally mix onces to drops per instructions,,to much hardener with cause it to be brittle.
Jim
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/jimcaf12

Best article on it is on this site. Buy neoprene gloves as it will eat latex ones. Finish with matte so the cloth pattern won't appear through the finish. http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Articles/August_2000/Fiberglass_I.php

Thomas, I work with "glass " on boats and cars on a weekly basis. Yes, use three to four layers as described earlier. Use the specific manufactures recomandation for the required amount of hardener.(Temperature dependent) Also, "VERY IMPORTANT" ! If you are going to 'glass over old ( already cured) 'glass, prep the area to be glassed with acetone. It will promote adhesion between the old 'glass and the new.
--
WPoC,DSRA,Home of S8N !! If it ain't glass,it'll rust !!