Peel ply

clinton andrus

Active member
Sitting here reading and trying to stay positive after yesterday's horror show at the doctor's office thinking of how I want to keep everything I do with epoxy in my boat looking as smooth as possible, I came across some post about peel ply.

So I wanted to ask the members here who have used it did you like the finished product? Did you have any problems useing it?

I read that it works best when useing the vacuum and bag syestem, So is it worth it to use it in hand lay up on fillets?

Just basically the pro's and con's of it.

Thanks ahead of time for any advice on the subject.
 
Sitting here reading and trying to stay positive after yesterday's horror show at the doctor's office thinking of how I want to keep everything I do with epoxy in my boat looking as smooth as possible, I came across some post about peel ply.

So I wanted to ask the members here who have used it did you like the finished product? Did you have any problems useing it?

I read that it works best when useing the vacuum and bag syestem, So is it worth it to use it in hand lay up on fillets?

Just basically the pro's and con's of it.

Thanks ahead of time for any advice on the subject.

I'm pretty much the only one here who has used it and all that has been written here was written by me. Sounds like you have found my posts and I know I've covered my feelings in there. I'd be happy to hear anyone else that has used it - I would not build a stitch and glue without it.
 
No Tod I hadn't read your post's on it, I was reading about it on other websites and just basic Google searching the term peel ply after that, so I came here to see what the member's had to say about it.

I will search your post backlog to read what your thoughts are about it though, thanks for the reply sir.
 
No Tod I hadn't read your post's on it, I was reading about it on other websites and just basic Google searching the term peel ply after that, so I came here to see what the member's had to say about it.

I will search your post backlog to read what your thoughts are about it though, thanks for the reply sir.

I really like it, it works really well. It creates a very finished looking fillet that does not need much sanding to look perfect. I encourage everyone to try it. I would not bother with it if you are going for a workboat level finish.

I talked about it here and here (multiple posts per thread, so read down):

http://duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=163469;search_string=peel%20ply;#163469

http://duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=49399;search_string=peel%20ply;#49399
 
Clinton,. I've tried it after reading Tod's posts and it is definitely a tool that will help with finishing your fillets. Very easy to finish off a fillet prior to it setting up. Try it, I think you'll like it.
 
Thanks for the reply Pete.

I think I will give it a try, I will have to see if I can find some in a tape from all I have seen is in large sheet form.

Pete, Do you think it did a ok job of removing extra uneeded epoxy from the fillet? Are is it just a tool best used to give a smooth finish to lower or remove any sanding needed to the finished fillet?
 
Clinton,

Peel ply's purpose is just for surface finish and to eliminate a lot of post cure sanding. Any epoxy that comes through (never happened to me) is incidental and shouldn't be counted on. Here is a little write up from CLC Boats with pictures.

http://www.clcboats.com/shoptips/epoxy_and_fiberglass/peel-ply-release-fabric.html

I see that CLC charges $11 per yard and that's pretty high. Raka gets $7.75/yd. and I think that's about average.
 
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Thanks for the reply Pete.

Spent a good bit of time googling and reading on peel ply and for the cost of the stuff I just don't feel its worth the cost to use it and will just use what I would have spent on it on more sanding pads.
 
I have messed around with it a bit on taped fillets, it works pretty good as long as you make sure it's totally wetted out, otherwise you will get voids and birdbaths. It really can save a lot of time sanding though!
 
Thanks for the headsup Rich.

I done made up my mind not to use it and just spend the cash needed for it on more sanding pads when I need them.
 
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