Laminating GRP

Mark Halliday · 27 June 2008, 09:50

Because I am a tight git, I would like to re-use my resin rollers when I laminate in my new deck.

What is the best method of cleaning resin rollers?
Is it really worth while or should I just bin them?

gtflash · 27 June 2008, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

Because I am a tight git, I would like to re-use my resin rollers when I laminate in my new deck.

What is the best method of cleaning resin rollers?
Is it really worth while or should I just bin them?

yeah clean em with that clear stuff that explodes even if you sneeze near it! for the life of me i cant remember what its callled now! Smells great though!

Mark Halliday · 27 June 2008, 10:36

What? Acetone explodes? Really?
I thought it just burnt gently with a pale orange flame.

I was after "how" not "what with."

LeewayComposite · 27 June 2008, 11:11

we in the industry use acetone... but if i was you doing a home job i would buy a pack of cheap disposable rollers and chuck away in-between uses.

good luck!!

martini · 27 June 2008, 16:14

I think acetone only really works against un-catalyzed resin, I bought all my GRP stuff from a company called CFS.net, Their rollers are here, a pound summat each.

Let us know how you get on in your Guiness book of records attempt at being the tightest git ever in the history of the entire world ever.

Mark Halliday · 27 June 2008, 17:09

Hi Martini

I supose I should have asked you straight away, seeing as you have just done about twice the area.

I bought some CFS rollers too. It just seems a bit of a shame to bin them every 20 mins as the resin gels.

Looking at your post, it sounds like you only put 1 layer of 450g CSM and 1 of tissue on your decks plus flow coat etc. Is that right? I was planning on 2 x 450 + tissue.
What thickness ply did you use?

My Guiness book of records attempt will fail dismally.
I can never leave a pub with trying to buy a round.

martini · 27 June 2008, 22:41

The fibreglassing work is the bit I'm probably least knowledgable with on my build so you'd be better off listening to other people on that subject!

But I know what you mean about throwing so much away, I've re ordered rollers and brushes twice already, sometimes they get used for 2 minutes then binned!

Youre right I have gone for just one layer of 450 csm (+ a layer of tissue), originally I thought 2 but when you calculate the cost of 2 layers on a 28ft boat...

I've used 1/2" ply and its well screwed down so I figured I was wasting money as its only purpose is as a waterproof barrier and base for the topcoat.

I used a huge amount of resin tho, 50kg inc all the other little bits. The main reason for this is because given my experience, I let the resin go off on top of the 450. This allowed me to sand the bumps out before putting on the tissue which turned out to be a good idea

It just meant I resined the whole deck twice more than I needed to had I beeen a proffeshnial.

nick wood · 29 June 2008, 20:27

We use Cellulose Thinners in our yard if thats any help, seems to work well for us.

Cookee · 03 July 2008, 11:57

You'll need a bucket of acetone and get in there with your hands and squeeze out the resin and strands of glass (thick rubber gloves are a good idea for this!).

Extra resin in a layup only adds weight and no strength at all, the strength is in the matt, that is why you should always go over a layup with a brush to pick up any excess resin and that will give a stronger and lighter result.

Mark Halliday · 03 July 2008, 16:24

Thanks Cookie

Thats just what I wanted to know.

I hate (cleaning) paint rollers and I guess I am going to get to hate resin rollers.

Its just that for large flat areas a brush will be too slow.