Frame 7 is assembled, just waiting for the glue to cure, then will give everything a sand and then seal it with the penetrating epoxy.
I approached this frame with some trepidation based on reading the forum and people's experience will ring nails, but I had absolutely no problems. I drill two holes, applied the glue, tapped those two about half way home. I then drill all the other nail holes, and again drove nails in all the holes about half way home. Then bashed them all the way in. Sweet as, no problems, and nothing moved.
Finally got around to getting a respirator.
Also got some thinners for the penetrating epoxy, hopefully it will makes the first coat soak in a bit better.
Friday 30 September 2011
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Frame 8 complete, Frame 7 in Progress
Had a good weekend of progress. I have glued together frame 8, and made a start on Frame 7.
I also did some trials with my penetrating epoxy. That stuff smells bad, I must go and get a respirator. I painted the stuff on a scrap of mahogany and also on the ply that I am using for my floor timbers. Then after drying I cut the pieces in half to see how the penetration had gone. Not as much as I would have thought, although it seemed to suck into the wood quite readily when I painted it on. The instructions say I can thin it for the first coat by up to 10% so I am currently researching suitable thinners.
Work commitments are still a bit of a killer, but I'm hopeful of getting the frames all assembled and encapsulated by early November.
I also did some trials with my penetrating epoxy. That stuff smells bad, I must go and get a respirator. I painted the stuff on a scrap of mahogany and also on the ply that I am using for my floor timbers. Then after drying I cut the pieces in half to see how the penetration had gone. Not as much as I would have thought, although it seemed to suck into the wood quite readily when I painted it on. The instructions say I can thin it for the first coat by up to 10% so I am currently researching suitable thinners.
Work commitments are still a bit of a killer, but I'm hopeful of getting the frames all assembled and encapsulated by early November.
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Transom Frame is Complete
I've been a bit slack and haven't taken any photos yet,I will sort that out when I return to NZ.
Before leaving I completed the assembly of the transom frame. I wrecked several more screws in the process, I had to drill and ezy-out a couple of them. However by the end I wasn't wrecking screws any more.
This is also the first big test for the epoxy glue and so far I have no complaints.
I am pondering whether to glue the deck arches on just yet. The plans say to do it when the ply skin is on, but lots of people have done it before.
I have also acquired a couple of sheets of ply to make my gussets and floor timbers. So Frame assembly should progress fairly quickly over the next couple of weeks.
Before leaving I completed the assembly of the transom frame. I wrecked several more screws in the process, I had to drill and ezy-out a couple of them. However by the end I wasn't wrecking screws any more.
This is also the first big test for the epoxy glue and so far I have no complaints.
I am pondering whether to glue the deck arches on just yet. The plans say to do it when the ply skin is on, but lots of people have done it before.
I have also acquired a couple of sheets of ply to make my gussets and floor timbers. So Frame assembly should progress fairly quickly over the next couple of weeks.
Tuesday 13 September 2011
Stage 1 glueing the transom together
Well that was the scariest half hour of my recent memory.
Elected to glue the transom bottom laminations to the floor timber, and the centre upright to the floor timber. Learnt a lot of things really quick.
1. The glue makes everything really slippery, so when your trying to clamp, things slide all over the place, particularly as I was wary about over-clamping and squeezing all the glue out.
2. If you don't apply clamps before you screw, the two pieces will not respond to clamping afterwards as the screw threads hold the pieces apart.
3. If the screw driver bit slips even once with Silicon bronze screws, then the head is stuffed and your best course of action is to take it out if you can. I wrecked two screws in the process of putting 6 screws in. One of the things I did forget to do was use soap to lubricate them, must remember that for next time.
I had read numerous comments about over clamping, but found when it came to doing the job, I wasn't actually sure what constitutes over clamping. currently I have about a 1/32th gap between the pieces that is filled with glue. I need to do some research on this before my next glueing attempt.
But after all that I am reasonably happy with the outcome. But will need to wait for the glue to dry to be sure.
Elected to glue the transom bottom laminations to the floor timber, and the centre upright to the floor timber. Learnt a lot of things really quick.
1. The glue makes everything really slippery, so when your trying to clamp, things slide all over the place, particularly as I was wary about over-clamping and squeezing all the glue out.
2. If you don't apply clamps before you screw, the two pieces will not respond to clamping afterwards as the screw threads hold the pieces apart.
3. If the screw driver bit slips even once with Silicon bronze screws, then the head is stuffed and your best course of action is to take it out if you can. I wrecked two screws in the process of putting 6 screws in. One of the things I did forget to do was use soap to lubricate them, must remember that for next time.
I had read numerous comments about over clamping, but found when it came to doing the job, I wasn't actually sure what constitutes over clamping. currently I have about a 1/32th gap between the pieces that is filled with glue. I need to do some research on this before my next glueing attempt.
But after all that I am reasonably happy with the outcome. But will need to wait for the glue to dry to be sure.
Transom Dry fit up
Well after being a bit concerned about the complexity of the transom frame floor timber, it actually turned out to be quite easy to make. The part is formed from a 2 x 4 x 26 piece of mahogany, but has several angels, a notch for an uprights and one face is rounded off to match the curvature of the transom.
That done I set about dry fitting all the other pieces of the transom. This is the first time my entire clamp collection has been put to use in one go. I am going to have to get some more. Dry fitting was well worth it as there a subtleties (and minor errors) in the plans that don't become clear until you dry fit....and it doesn't fit. In my case most of the "doesn't fit" turned out to be because I had pieces not quite correctly positioned. I will have to square up the tops of my side pieces to get the deck frame sitting correctly, but other wise it looks pretty good. The other thing I noticed is the curve on my lower frame pieces doesn't quite match the curve on the Floor timber. Once they are glued together I'll marry them up with the belt sander.
I'll post a photo when I get home. But from here I have a 3 stage glue / screw plan. Stage 1 is the lower laminations and centre upright get secured to the floor timers. Stage 2 is the side pieces and deck beam. Stage 3 is the remaining uprights. After that I will encapsulate it in penetrating epoxy and be able to call the first frame done. Hopefully by about this coming weekend.
That done I set about dry fitting all the other pieces of the transom. This is the first time my entire clamp collection has been put to use in one go. I am going to have to get some more. Dry fitting was well worth it as there a subtleties (and minor errors) in the plans that don't become clear until you dry fit....and it doesn't fit. In my case most of the "doesn't fit" turned out to be because I had pieces not quite correctly positioned. I will have to square up the tops of my side pieces to get the deck frame sitting correctly, but other wise it looks pretty good. The other thing I noticed is the curve on my lower frame pieces doesn't quite match the curve on the Floor timber. Once they are glued together I'll marry them up with the belt sander.
I'll post a photo when I get home. But from here I have a 3 stage glue / screw plan. Stage 1 is the lower laminations and centre upright get secured to the floor timers. Stage 2 is the side pieces and deck beam. Stage 3 is the remaining uprights. After that I will encapsulate it in penetrating epoxy and be able to call the first frame done. Hopefully by about this coming weekend.
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