Brief Description: completed first layup of three plies in one sessio
This is a continuation of the first log entry for this date, just split over two entries so I can capture more pictures. I had two goals for today. One was to clean up and firm up the mold area around the openings in the front of the cowl. The other was to use the new slow hardener I just bought, to see if I am going to be able to lay up three plies in a single session. I mixed the epoxy in four separate batches. The first batch was 100 grams of epoxy plus 25 grams of hardener, which I painted onto the existing mold surface, starting at the horizontal parting line parallel to the crankshaft centerline, and extending approximately 10 inches back from that, including the metal shapes I was using to define the flanges of the openings. The next three batches were a one to one match of epoxy weight to fiberglass weight, plus an appropriate amount of hardener dependent on the epoxy weight. After mixing each batch of epoxy, I pre-pregged the cloth and applied the cloth to the mold before mixing the next batch of epoxy. In this way I was adding "fresh" epoxy onto partially-cured epoxy from previous layers. As the job proceeded, I felt that it was going very well. I am reallty eager to get back there tomorrow and see how it all cured up.
