+x

 

ahender - 9/3/2020 7:31:25 PM

I am close to finally infusing a 12' female canoe mold. It will be an ultralight and consist of one layer s-glass, core, one layer s-glass. I am always looking for tips on resin infusion. The three tips I list are from the below link:

https://explorecomposites.com/2019/11/19/troubleshooting-vacuum-infusion

I would like to get feedback on:

1) Degas the resin before infusing. Is this mandatory?

2) Do not turn off the vacuum pump until the part has gelled. I'm using a borrowed oil-based pump and really doubt it would would run continuously for 24 hours. I assumed that once I determine the bag does not leak, I can clamp off the resin hose and close the vacuum gauge I am using between the pump and mold. Is this a bad idea?

3) The resin bucket has to be below the part being infused. Resin pooling is the given reason. My thought is if I clamp off the resin line prior to the resin flow getting to the edge of the part, there would not be a resin pooling issue. Am I incorrect?

Thank you.

Alan
 

+x

 

LibertyMKiii - 9/3/2020 9:25:21 PM

+x

 

ahender - 9/3/2020 7:31:25 PM

I am close to finally infusing a 12' female canoe mold. It will be an ultralight and consist of one layer s-glass, core, one layer s-glass. I am always looking for tips on resin infusion. The three tips I list are from the below link:

https://explorecomposites.com/2019/11/19/troubleshooting-vacuum-infusion

I would like to get feedback on:

1) Degas the resin before infusing. Is this mandatory?

2) Do not turn off the vacuum pump until the part has gelled. I'm using a borrowed oil-based pump and really doubt it would would run continuously for 24 hours. I assumed that once I determine the bag does not leak, I can clamp off the resin hose and close the vacuum gauge I am using between the pump and mold. Is this a bad idea?

3) The resin bucket has to be below the part being infused. Resin pooling is the given reason. My thought is if I clamp off the resin line prior to the resin flow getting to the edge of the part, there would not be a resin pooling issue. Am I incorrect?

Thank you.

Alan
 

I am no expert, but I'll tell you what I have observed.

1. People on this forum say no about this as the vacuum will get 99% of the air bubbles out.
2. If the bag has a leak then your pump will be doing more work.  While it is digesting air it vaporizes the oil.  If there is a good deal then it wont loose oil so fast.  I have this same concern and believe if you can make it 2-3 hours you should be ok.  Ideally with all the time and money invested in the project it should be done on a day where you can check on it often and dedicate a full day to it.

3. Not sure on this one, but if you clamp off the exit then you are no longer pulling a vacuum on the part referenced in #2
I know that for mine the resin travels up the pipe vertically just fine as long as it has some slope to it and not fully vertical.

+x

 

Warren (Staff) - 9/4/2020 11:57:41 AM

If your bag is leak tight (from doing a longer leak test), then you don't need to leave the pump running once the infusion is complete. 

There are mixed results with having the resin bucket higher or lower than the part, IME it makes little difference on decent sized parts. Certainly on a large hull like you are doing, I doubt it will make any real difference compared to having the resin pot at the same level as the part.