Making a centerboard trunk.

Using the plug for the centerboard mold to layup a glass centerboard trunk.
I user 3 layers of 8oz. tooling cloth for the prototype.

The parts clamped together and placed in the port side mold, with the
centerboard in place.

PVA WHY you should use it.

PVA WHY you should use it.
I sprayed on 5 coats of PVA before putting the fiber glass and epoxies in the mold.
When removing parts the PVA sticks to the part and the risk if damaging the mold
is lower.

De-molding Main Beam Test Panel

De-molding Main Beam Test Panel


De-molding Main Beam Test Panel

Removing Peel Ply.

Bow Test Panel out of the mold.

Bow Test Panel out of the mold.



De-molding Bow Test Panel -A.
De-molding Bow Test Panel -B.

Bagging Test Panels.

Don't forget to add pleats to your vacuum bag where needed.

Test Panel at main beam section.

Test Panel at main beam section.

Bow section test.

Bow section test.
2 layers of 6oz S-Glass, 1 layer of 6oz. uni glass
oriented for loads.
Then 3mm thick honeycomb core, then repeat of the glass.

Mold with edge taped and 5 coats PVA.

Mold with edge taped and 5 coats PVA.

Parts cut for test panels.

Parts cut for test panels.

Vacuum Pump is working.

I went to "Pep Boys" a local auto parts store and bought a $85 compressor with two tanks attached.
I reversed the input and output and installed a check valve ( http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info...products_id=558 )
between the tank and the pump. Also got a Vacuum Controller ( http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info...;products_id=58 )which I
attached to a relay (the controller is good for 10 amps and the pump pulls 15 amps) and next thing you know I've got a vacuum pump.
I have been doing test panels lately and it pulls a 26.5" vacuum and the little leaks in my bag cause the controller to come on at 23".
The pump comes on for 15 seconds every 5 minutes. I can live with that amount of leakage.
I think my next step is to do a test panel in the mold to check for leaks in the mold and to test the layup schedule.
If I have time this week I will post some pictures.