Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Stand Up Paddleboard infusion

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic11746.aspx

By andrew.spencer.2 - 6/10/2014 11:05:33 AM

I was just having a gander at your charming resin infusion starter kit, and was wondering if it would fit my needs. I've only ever done wet hand layups in the past, so jumping straight into resin infusion vacuum bagging is a pretty big step for me. 

I watched the very helpful video tutorial on infusion which answered a lot of questions, but it's a little different from what I want to do, which is this:
Coat a 3.5m Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP, think really big surfboard) in carbon fibre. It's a hollow wooden affair, entirely sealed in sanding sealer as to be non-porous. 

Firstly, is it even possible to coat an object on all sides with a vacuum infusion? Should I try to do the top and bottom separately, or can I do it all in one go? What sort of resin should I use? How would I place the infusion feed spiral? 
Sorry for the barrage of questions, if anybody has answers, I would really appreciate some guidance.

Cheers!

Andrew
By Dravis - 6/19/2014 3:44:04 PM

I would definitely go for Epoxy resins, for this sort of job...  (not just because I hate the stink of polyester)    As an afterthought, I would maybe add some fumed silica filler to the "base coat" if you make it yourself. That will stop it being quite so "runny" and make it easier to "paint on"  I would probably use a roller for something like this.

Epoxy will be just fine, even if exposed to sunlight/UV, if you get it clearcoated with a good 2-component Urethane  (I use 2-comp boat varnish, since I have access to it cheaply, and have my own spray-guns.)

BTW... I got "Sapere Aude" from a very good book called "Reckoning with Risk" by Gerd Gigerenzer... (Penguin books) Well worth a read, I assure you!! and also the inspiration for the second line in my signature  Smile