I couldn't find the old post so I' thought I'd start a new one.
Had another go at the carbon overlay project. This time I used painters tape over the whole area. The result is much better, carbon is sitting flatter on the mould and around the edges.....
Haven't checked the pointy bits, they were difficult.
However for some reason the surfboard resin hasn't gone off and it's been around 16 hours. I'm not sure if its because I had it totally taped (so no air) so it will take longer or I got the mixture wrong??
If it doesn't go off is it stuffed or can I splash on another coat of resin. ![]()
By "surfboard resin" I guess you mean polyester, a clear resin that you add about 1 percent catalyst to.
Polyester is sensitive to all sorts of other stuff especially water, even if it's a bit damp, it will slow setting quite a bit. It doesn't need air to go off, so tape shouldn't be a problem, but sometimes I've noticed some tape glues can also slow setting but that's only right next to the tape.
Heating will help it go off if it's going to, try putting under black plastic in the sun.
A "hot brew" on top of the old resin can also help, use up to 5 percent catalyst, but get it on quick, and don't leave the left over resin anywhere near flammable stuff!
Haven't seen your old post so not sure exactly what you're doing, but for most of the purposes you use carbon for, polyester isn't the ideal resin, it's too brittle to get the maximum strength from the carbon.
If you forgot to add the catalyst, then I think you'd better start again.
if your looking to sand the carbon laminate, you will need to use a filler resin because some laminateing resins have wax and will clog your paper, so you will need to sand the filler and when its smooth with no scratches you apply a thin gloss coat
Thanks guys, I think the tape did slow down the curing process. I took some of the tape off left it in the sun room and it appears to have set.
thanks for the tip decrepit, but i gave one of the fin a polish to show des the finnish hes looking for (have you seen his project
)
your rite again decrepit , thats why i mentioned about not sanding the laminateing resin, if its a mould then thats a different story