I’m infusing a hood and the first one is junk. The bag held vacuum fine until about half way through then started sucking air in several places. I’ve made small parts before and they came out good. This is my first try at a hood. I waxed and put on two coats of pva, sprayed a coat of gelcoat. I applied the sticky tape on the edge of the gelcoat and finished the lay up. It looks like the leaks started between the mold and the gelcoat and since I want to keep weight to a minimum I only had a thin gelcoat. What’s the proper order for applying the tape? Does it go on the gelcoat?
Any advice would be appriciated.
Thanks
Bob
with pva and gelcoat on the mold I find it hard to believe it was leaking through the mold. Are you sure it wasnt the bag? you should always use a highend bag for infusing, other bags are riddled with tiny holes usely. try vacbag2000 for infusing
Uh, did you say you put the sealant tape ON the gelcoat?
If so, yeah, there is your problem. You seal the part INTO the mold, not ONTO it. You need to leave enough flange area on the mold with no gelcoat or mold release, and tape onto THAT.
That’s what I did and I thought that was the problem. What’s the trick to putting the tape on a clean mold and keeping the resin off that area? Do you wax or pva tight to the tape after it’s applied? Thanks, Bob
Wax the mold. Put painters tape around the flange where the bagging tape will go. Spray the gelcoat into the mold. Remove painters tape. Lay up and infuse.
i have found that this will not work 100%. you have to do an evelope bagging for this to work. you will no matter what even if you think you sealed the seams 100%, u really didnt. i infused a part and wow leaks like a mofo
It’s supposed to work if you have a good mold and do things right.
A bad mold or bagging film with pinholes will destroy your effort.