Using CA for hull building.

[Tollytime]

Hey guys I've been away for a while, but I've staterd to build again. I noticed some builders use epoxy and clamps to do their whole assembly. I don't have the patience or time. I'm hooked on CA, really bad! When I'm done with my hull, I coat the inside with West System. It ads weight but I make sure all the joints and CA is coated. I paint over it to avoid any UV breakdown.
Finally, I coat the outside hull with three coats of epoxy, then wet sand. I noticed a builder used fiberglass coth for the outside. Is cloth it still needed when I coat it with West System?
So, is it OK to use CA if I cover over it with epoxy? Can I avoid using cloth on the hull using three coats of West System? Can somebody answer these questions?

[Steve Ebel]

Building and planking with CA is fine. Using epoxy to seal the inside of the hull is a good idea. Applying it to the outside of the hull is a good thing too. Using glass cloth (one or more layers) on the outside of the hull will also help you by adding strength and integrity to the hull. This is especially true if in the process of sanding of the hull to smooth out the irregularities you have created any thin spots in the planking. It gives you a little added insurance of hull strength.

Steve

[green-boat]

I do use CA with accelerator when planking, so much faster. I also coat the inside with Epoxy with some color additive added to it, saves on the painting step. The outside though gets several coats of Epoxy but I do use fiberglass cloth. The cloth acts as a mesh to bind/hold everything together.

Wood even though sealed on both sides still contains moisture. As the temprature fluctuates the wood expands and contracts. Without something to bind things together the wood will develop cracks. Think of fiberglass as the rebar for resin. While applying the first layer of resin, just add a layer of cloth and smooth out. The Epoxy doesn't have to harden to apply succesive coats, just has to be tacky. I can put down 5 layers of resin and 2 layers of cloth in a few hours.

[john_auberry]

whats CA? Im a newbie.....sorry

[valo]

CyanAcrylate - instant adhesive

[toesup]

whats CA? Im a newbie.....sorry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate

cyanoacrylate (CA) or Superglue

[CG Bob]

Have some the next time you visit the LHS and ask the guys behind the rc counter for some ACC. ;) See if they give you a blank stare. Most railroad modelers will use the term ACC (Alpha Cyano aCrylate) instead of CA like most of the rc and plastic modelers. Same glue, different names.

[green-boat]

Have some the next time you visit the LHS and ask the guys behind the rc counter for some ACC. ;) See if they give you a blank stare. Most railroad modelers will use the term ACC (Alpha Cyano aCrylate) instead of CA like most of the rc and plastic modelers. Same glue, different names.
You are dating yourself.

[CG Bob]

You are dating yourself.Not really, but I did build my first wood models with Ambroid's Cement in the orange and white tube. Yesterday at the LHS where I work, an old timer came in and asked for some ACC. I told him the CA was over in the second aisle, across from the Dremel display. I also stated that he must be a model railroader, because they're the only ones in our store who still ask for ACC; and it confuses the younger guys who I work with.

[420TEE]

CG Bob, I just bought a tube of Ambroid for old times sake. The most fun of it was chewing the dried stuff off your fingers. :p

[green-boat]

I remember the original article in Model Railroader about ACC.