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

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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.