OT: Fiberglass Peel Ply

I've used Scotch tape to create a flat surface on repaired circuit boards, such as filling in misplaced edge connector keying notches. It's not cosmetically smooth but it's good enough for that purpose, and it keeps the epoxy from spreading across the surface.

How about a reference to this "Peal Ply". The only peal ply I've seen is that used in vacuum forming GRP and that is just a synthetic gauze sort of material that separates the composite from the backup material that absorbs the excess resin that is squeezed out of the laminate when vacuum is applied.

I can't see the benefit to using it with a simple air cured laminate. Cheers, John B.

John B. fired this volley in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

You don't search much, do you?

My first search term came up with dozens of hits.

Here's just one:

'pity it won't handle compound curves.

LLoyd

Quote (from OP link)

What if you could skip two of the three coats of epoxy and most of the sanding? Well, you can. Sometimes.

?Peel Ply,? also called ?Release Fabric,? is a synthetic cloth that you drape over your epoxied surface as the epoxy sets up. Once cured, you can peel off the fabric, and what?s left behind is a perfectly smooth surface that?s ready for a quick sanding, or for the next round of epoxy. No runs, no sags, no low spots.

Not only is the surface under the peel ply nearly perfectly smooth, it actually has a texture that improves adhesion if you have anything else to stick to it. We use it here whenever we can.

Actually, ANY Dacron fabric will work fine as peel ply. But be careful about cheap prints. The dyes can sometimes transfer to the laminate. Guys will laugh hysterical at your flowered layups. THEN you'll be sorry!

One last thing...

My effort to show how to make fiberglass parts...

Thanks for that but it sounds pretty much like the Dacron fabric peal ply that I've always used but they make some claims that I can't believe. The one about "virtually eliminates the weave of the cloth" for example seems, somehow, to imply that if you try a very lean mix that the peel ply will somehow disguise the fact that you didn't have enough resin to saturate the cloth. Just isn't true.

But some of the newer peel plies do sound interesting. Cheers, John B.

Except in my experience it is not perfectly smooth and does take additional sanding before painting. Or, if you use it over a gel coat it leaves a rough surface. As for additional layers adhering, perhaps if you use polyester, but I use mainly epoxy and get blush using peel ply so have to wash or sand it anyway.

Cheers, John B.

My wife buys mine at the fabric shop. A plain white Dacron cloth. I think it is used to make petticoats.

Cheers, John B.

Post the "Princess Lea's slave bra" demo. That sounds interesting :-)

Was the white stuff in the last photo gel coat? If so did you have to sand and buff it or could you get it smooth enough without all the trouble? Cheers, John B.

Well, first you have to take a casting from the Princess. :)

volunteers?

Yes, that's the gel coat finish. Yes, you do have to sand an buff, but it's not at all hard to do. Gel coat sands beautifully.

Best of all it provides good UV protection.

When vacuum bagging all that is pretty much true, John. But vacuum bagging in itself is a hassle for small parts.

That outta be safe :^)