Search found 30 matches

by Chipper1959
Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:11 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Applying Fiberglass and Epoxy - safety
Replies: 7
Views: 4337

Re: Applying Fiberglass and Epoxy - safety

I found the West system epoxy quite odorless....I was pleasantly surprised....(and I didn't wear a mask...except when sanding).

What almost killed me was sanding the cedar before applying the F/G and resin. It's worth investing in a good mask for sanding the cedar and/or sanding the cured resin.
by Chipper1959
Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:11 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: New Here - question about 18 ft lumber in Montreal, quebec
Replies: 2
Views: 1642

Re: New Here - question about 18 ft lumber in Montreal, queb

I got some of my wood from these folks here in Cowansville...about 45 minutes east of Mtl on the Aut10.

http://www.specialitesmdm.ca/species_en.htm

I don't know if they have 18ft pieces though......it might be worth giving them a call.
by Chipper1959
Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:26 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Flipped !
Replies: 4
Views: 2673

Flipped !

Took my Hiawatha out for the second time, this time in a river with a bit of current. The 1st time I was with my daughter, and while it was "tippy" it was still quite controllable. This time I took my wife, who is quite a bit taller. The boat so was unstable that even swatting flies was ri...
by Chipper1959
Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:17 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Varnish Process
Replies: 8
Views: 5704

Re: Varnish Process

There was a post on the Techniques forum describing how to use a brown paper bag to get rid of dust nibs. I wanted to try it but completely forgot when the time came.

Search in the techniques forum for "paper bag".
by Chipper1959
Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:45 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: 1st Float !
Replies: 5
Views: 3463

1st Float !

Finished my Hiawatha early this spring and finally managed to get her in the water yesterday. It's about as tippy as I expected but is a handful on a bigger lake with waves over 5 or 6 inches, but quite manageable on calmer waters. With 2 people on board it really moves, with little effort. The 1st ...
by Chipper1959
Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:00 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Finally finished !! Thanks to all.
Replies: 5
Views: 2994

Finally finished !! Thanks to all.

Installed the seats on my 15' Hiawatha last night and gave the whole thing a good polishing. I started in Oct 2011 and worked on it mostly during the winter months. I'm extremely happy with the way it turned out, (at least visually, seeing it hasn't hit the water yet). My past woodworking creations ...
by Chipper1959
Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:33 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: I think I'm finished !
Replies: 3
Views: 2093

I think I'm finished !

Put the 6th coat of Epifanes on last night....real nice gloss. More dust particles than I would have liked but looking at my workshop, you can see why.
I'm wondering if I should attempt buffing it with automotive compound ?...or is there another method ?
by Chipper1959
Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:49 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Seat height
Replies: 1
Views: 1213

Seat height

My Hiawatha is almost done !...(6 months behind schedule). I'm putting the last coats of Epifanes on the outside and will be installing the seats next week...then I'm done. I was planning on hanging the seats from the gunwales, using the traditional method, but was unsure about the height. I've read...
by Chipper1959
Fri Dec 07, 2012 3:31 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Caned my seats !
Replies: 3
Views: 2063

Re: Caned my seats !

I guess my reason for having more than a couple knots is because my lengths weren't long enough to do each pass completely.
In hindsight, I would have done it differently....but I sure as heck ain't starting over.. :wink
by Chipper1959
Fri Nov 30, 2012 2:23 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Caned my seats !
Replies: 3
Views: 2063

Caned my seats !

I just finished caning the seats for my Hiawatha. I had never attempted caning anything before but I had told myself from the start that my canoe was going to be built 100% by me . I bought the 3.5mm plastic cane from HH Perkins...(500ft), and went to work. Each seat took me about 5 hours to complet...
by Chipper1959
Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:39 am
Forum: Project Directories
Topic: Greenland Kayak
Replies: 30
Views: 52999

Re: Greenland Kayak

Electrical outlets on the strongback ! Cool !
by Chipper1959
Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:05 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: attaching gunwales
Replies: 4
Views: 2681

Re: attaching gunwales

I'm in the process of attaching my inwales. I glued my outwales on using epoxy and screwed the inwales on using brass screws. The screws are evenly spaced and countersunk so as to look "pretty". I made sure to use screws long enough to bite into the outwale at least 3/4"....(2" s...
by Chipper1959
Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:43 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: laminating gunwales
Replies: 5
Views: 3935

Re: laminating gunwales

I also couldn't find,(or deal with), 16ft pcs for mine so I scarfed jointed two 8fters together. I used Gorilla glue on the joint. My Hiawatha has quite a bit of curve to it so I managed to break both inner gunwales while trying to get them to fit. They didn't break on the glue joint however....but ...
by Chipper1959
Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:58 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: chasing cracks
Replies: 4
Views: 2561

Re: chasing cracks

I found that the epoxy was too hard to sand off without sanding into the surrounding wood. I tried different fillers and ended up using this stuff....It comes in a bunch of different colors but I blended a couple of them together to get it just right. It sands just like cedar.
by Chipper1959
Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:29 pm
Forum: Boat-Building Tips & Techniques
Topic: another poor man's staple-less technique
Replies: 14
Views: 18943

Re: another poor man's staple-less technique

Wow...after looking at some of the craftsmanship on these sites it makes me realize I've got a lot of learning to do.
Quite inspiring !