Using too much epoxy

[davidpm]

I have to make my own quartersawn some times. I rip the pieces flip them etc and epoxy them together. Just seems like a lot of epoxy is wasted.
Want to put it on thick enought to squeese out.
These pictures show what I get after gluing before sanding.
Any ideas of how to use less epoxy or is this just what happens?

[Stillraining]

I have learned that if you glue both edges it can be really really thin..

[peikenberry]

I am slowly learning the right amount. But with epoxy you don't want to use too much pressure becuase if you squeeze it out it won't bond. You need a thin layer of epoxy between the two layers. Of course I always seem to get to much or too little.

[davidpm]

I'm putting a neet coat on both edges then a thickend (syrupy) coat on one edge then clamping. The idea is the thicker stuff will not squeeze out all the way.

[Quickstep192]

I use a small paint roller with 3/8" nap to apply the epoxy. It applies a realtively thin film, but still leaves enough behind to have some squeeze out. I coat both surfaces then leave it sit for a few minutes to see if there are areas that absorb all the glue, then re-coat. Otherwise, you could get a starved joint. Peikenberry is right; epoxy doesn't like to be overclamped. I've found that using the roller, then clamping with juuuuuust enough pressure to get a little bit of squeeze out does the trick and there's less squeeze out to clean up.

PS, get the roller cover off of the frame before the epoxy hardens, or it won't come off ever....

[chucklesR]

I used a squeegie to apply the epoxy when building my dinghy; a very thin coat. The idea of using thicken epoxy to glue joints seems to me to be over doing it. When you rip the planks are you then running a planer down the plank and smoothing the edge? Well jointed you do not need thickened epoxy at all, just a thin almost invisible glue line.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

I used a squeegie to apply the epoxy when building my dinghy; a very thin coat. The idea of using thicken epoxy to glue joints seems to me to be over doing it. When you rip the planks are you then running a planer down the plank and smoothing the edge? Well jointed you do not need thickened epoxy at all, just a thin almost invisible glue line.

Don't have a planer but get a smooth cut with a good carbide blade. The wood I'm using often takes a little set when cut so some clamping pressure is required to pull it in line. that's why I'm so worried about a starved joint.

[peikenberry]

Well, since I am using hand tools, I don't have a planer or even a shed to work in, I just saw the parts to the right dimension, so everything is a bit rough. And since it's a stitch and glue boat, the size of the gap isn't all that critical, but I try to keep it to a minimum, no larger than 1/8 of an inch. It's all going to get filled with epoxy putty anyway, and glassed over. This is, like what in M A S H they called meatball surgery, wood butcher boat building, LOL. I coat both surfaces with epoxy and then apply pressure until it starts to squeeze out. Seems to work. Everything is holding together.

Besides I have decided I am not a big fan of stitch and glue, it is a little too sloppy. I guess it offends my sense of craftsmanship (although I am not all that good a carpenter). My Dad taught me carpentry and we built a couple of small boats and he was a really artisan. His work was cabinetmaker quality. (Oh, and he had a planer) I supposed it rubbed off on me. All these gaps make me a little queasy. But what the hell, I'll finish this boat and I'm sure it will look good and not leak. But I think my next one will be a more traditional construction.