winter and fiberglass

[fishforfun]

Hello every one haven't been on for some time had to stop the build for a while on my dk canoe family,work and football got in the way. Getting ready to get back to it in the next couple weeks is there any tipps for working with fiberglass when it is cold out say under 30degress. I'm at the stage of the game where i am rounding out the filets on the inside. The outside is done and is ready for the fiber glass cloth. I will be useing a fiberglass weave that i got at a killer price just looking for any tips. Thanks

[fishforfun]

it is a 8 oz satin weave. That i picked up 18 yards of it for $20 bucks didn't think i could go wrong with that

[fishforfun]

Sorry for the double post.

[jem]

Working under 30 degrees will be tough. You really need to try and warm up the work area and hull. If you're using fast-cure resin, that will help.

The 8-harness satin weave is strong, tough stuff. Will take a little extra effort to wet out completely.

[footonthesea]

I have had good success in an unheated workshop tent in <40*F temps using RAKA 350H and 610H by suspending a simple, pvc framework draped in 4mil plastic sheeting and with a tiny oil or ceramic electric heater. I use a few clamps to seal up the edges where the plastic meets the workbench and the reduced space (about 204cft) maintains a good temp with minimal electricity use despite continual cold outside. For the fillets I didn't even need the framework and just draped the plastic over the hull but the plastic can mess up a fiberglass job if it touches and moves (at all) before full cure. Anyway, if you have a structure to provide wind control (or if wind is not a concern), plastic sheeting is excellent and also provides a great greenhouse effect (watch the humidity depending on your location) if there is any sunshine.

[Derek Bowen]

On the subject of cold working spaces. Say you do lay up your epoxy n glass fibre in a near freezing area. Are we talking very slow curing time or no curing at all ??. Given that the colder the temperature the slower the cure, there must (logically) be a temperature where curing will not happen at all.

[jem]

very slow cure time.