I've been working on my Freedom 17 off and on for over a year... Job changes... a baby... life... you know? Anyway, I've finally started stripping the hull a couple weeks ago. I've gotten 8 strips on each side, and I'm thinking it's time for a status check as I've noticed a couple potential "red flags."
I'd like to know if my strips are coming together normally, and whether I might be causing some problems with my process and glue selection. Here's the gist:
- I prep each strip prior to gluing by running some fine steel wool over the bead to remove unruly grain, in hopes I'm achieving a better joint. It seems I caused a lot of raised grain when I milled the strips because I ran the strips through the router table against the grain. Anyway, I wipe the strips with a dry towel after the steel wool to remove any steel dust (and avoid rust issues).
- I'm using Titebond III to glue the strips.
- I'm using a stapleless method, with the typical clamping jigs and system.
- The strips were milled with a 3/16" radius bead/cove bit in lieu of the standard 1/8" radius bit. I believe I got this idea from a post on this forum.
1) Are my strips coming together with the proper/normal looking "gap." I believe my clamping is strong, and if it were any stronger, I'd starve the joint of glue.
2) Am I using the right glue? There seems to be a solid dark grey line between each strip.
3) Could the steel wool be producing the above mentioned dark grey color? I kind of doubt this as there isn't much steel dust, and I do make sure to wipe the strip after the steel wool.
4) Are the gaps just due to the larger radius bead/coves, and I'm stuck with it? Will I end up having to scrape, plane, and sand a ton to get these lines to be finer or invisible?
![Image](http://imgur.com/IrrMByc.jpeg)
![Image](http://imgur.com/KZuDWDZ.jpeg)
![Image](http://i.imgur.com/7x13LoD.jpeg)
Thank you for any and all help! I've spent many hours going though posts on this forum for advice,
tips, warnings, etc.!
Patrick