3/12/2015 Chapter 14 Step 6 top spar

Top spar is done and....I'd thought I'd posted this earlier but we've had a couple power outages, so guess it didn't get posted.   The bottom spar dam is ready,   hope to have it done by this weekend.

Bottom dam in place.

A 50:50 mix of fast and slow hardener (pot life 1.5 hours) seemed to work fairly well.   I used bowls of 4 oz of resin and 1.52 oz of hardener.

Wains coating cut length wise was used for the top spar dam and worked fairly well.  There are some epoxy runs so wish I'd put peel ply next to the box tape.  The lumber I had laying around that I was going to use for the bottom spar dam was warped, so I followed the plans and used 1/4" plywood.   Serendipity hit and I ended up cutting strips with and against the grain.    Then I recalled seeing some wood working tips where they pointed out how to use plywood if you need to bend it around something....it almost bends to easily.

1.5" x 1/4" plywood strips cut with and against grain.  

The bottom strip conforms to the spar much better but is is also very flexible, so takes more dabs of  bondo to keep it from springing out when pushed against than if the top strip was used.

To help with dust (and flying insect) control, the Paulk work benches are about to be modified to become down draft tables.  I've made some magnetic attachable panels for the sides.    The weather has finally gotten warmer too.   Hopefully other distractions and commitments will stay at a minimum for a few more weeks.