Vacuum bag tape

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Vacuum bag tape

Author	Message
kmulloy	k kmulloy posted 6 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
k Group: Forum Members Posts: 9, Visits: 48	I am vacuum bagging the hull of a boat and the sealing tape isn't sticking well to the fibreglass. The fibreglass was laid 7 days ago. I have tried washing thoroughly with acetone and also a light sand, but tape is still not creating a good seal. Any suggestions? Does the fibreglass need to cure longer? Any assistance would be appreciated.
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Steve Broad	Steve Broad posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 408, Visits: 4.1K	+x kmulloy - 5/10/2018 6:18:34 PM I am vacuum bagging the hull of a boat and the sealing tape isn't sticking well to the fibreglass. The fibreglass was laid 7 days ago. I have tried washing thoroughly with acetone and also a light sand, but tape is still not creating a good seal. Any suggestions? Does the fibreglass need to cure longer? Any assistance would be appreciated. Which sealing tape are you using?
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oekmont	oekmont posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 550, Visits: 27K	Does the tape literally fall off again, or are you just having problems to get a good seal? Bagging tape is not as easy to use as it is shown in most videos. Usually you end up with some extra pressing around the tape to get it tight. Unless you made some serious mistakes while mixing your resin, or you are using hot curing resin, your mould should be cured properly by now.
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MarkMK	MarkMK posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 338, Visits: 2K	The only other thing that I can think of is temperature. The tape can be a bit less keen to stick well in cooler conditions, whereas when warm it softens and sticks like chewing gum.
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	Age can also be an issue, bagging tape does expire and it loses its tackiness the older it gets. But realistically, it lasts for years, so this would only be a concern if you've had it for many years. It does sound more like you haven't spent enough time pressing it down to make sure of the seal.
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kmulloy	k kmulloy posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
k Group: Forum Members Posts: 9, Visits: 48	THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS. I am easy composites sealing tape purchased two weeks ago. It may have been a cool day. I will try again and really push the tape onto the surface. I will let you know how I go. THANKS again.
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kmulloy	k kmulloy posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
k Group: Forum Members Posts: 9, Visits: 48	+x kmulloy - 5/13/2018 8:24:56 AM THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS. I am easy composites sealing tape purchased two weeks ago. It may have been a cool day. I will try again and really push the tape onto the surface. I will let you know how I go. THANKS again. I am still having small leaks in vacuum bag, but have been able to isolate that this is on fairly freshly laid fiberglass. I have used peel ply to try and rid the tacky feeling of the fiberglass. I have tried sanding - always washing down thoroughly with acetone, but still the leak indicator says small leks through tape. I have doubled the tape and pushed very firmly. Still a small amount of leak. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 6 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	The fibreglass shouldn't feel tacky, I'm not sure what's going on there... there shouldn't be any need to do any sanding or cleaning with acetone or anything like that. It just does take more effort to seal tacky tape than simply applying it to the mould, you have to really go around it inch by inch, pressing and pulling and stretching it etc. If your thumbs don't hurt afterwards, you're either doing a very small mould or you didn't do enough pressing! Can you post a picture of your setup?
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