As I mentioned previously we were preparing to adhere the first part of the Filon covering to the hatch. The Filon was cut to rough size. We rehearsed the application.
My first choice of adhesive is not available anywhere nearby because it is not VOC-compliant (VOC = Volatile Organic Compounds.) Being solvent-based, it is not legal for sale or shipment into my state or any of the surrounding states.
So I spent a day researching the various alternatives, creating a spreadsheet to compare their pertinent characteristics.
One particular product floated to the top of the list. I had seen it locally, so I went and purchased a gallon pail.
Yesterday, with the able assistance of Norm Brody, we spread the adhesive and applied the FRP (Filon is a "Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic.")
We noticed during the application of the glue that it was not forming a skin after exposure, as most latex-based adhesives do. Still, we forged ahead and set the Filon onto the hatch. We rolled the Filon out with J-rollers, added some band clamps the length of the curve, added some clamps at the top and bottom edges, and cleaned up.
Still we did not observe the adhesive skinning over.
Today, some 28 hours later, minimal skinning had occurred. Yesterday I made note of the date code on the lid of the adhesive, which was unclear as to exactly when it was manufactured. The manufacturer claims a one-year shelf life if unopened.
Today I called the manufacturer's technical department, who confirmed the date code on my pail dates to April, 2012, well outside their one-year shelf life. While four months over the specified life (or, put another way, 33%) seems unlikely to be a "drop-dead" situation, the technical person at the manufacturer, after hearing of our issues, said, "I wouldn't use it."
That was all I needed to hear. I rushed back to Sean's, and we peeled the Filon off the hatch. The next couple hours were spent scraping the adhesive from both the Filon sheet and the hatch, then using paint thinner to remove the remnants.
We think we have a relatively-clean removal. A thin film may remain, but washing with clean rags and paint thinner should remove that film.
The next step is to attempt to find the same product with a current date code. Failing that pursuit, choosing an alternative is in order.
Please stay tuned.
2013/08/15
2013/08/14
Hatch Covered? It Depends ...
We decided some time back to cover the hatch first. It is the smallest piece of Filon to apply, and we had the best opportunity to control the process (aka learn.)
I wanted to use Titebond FRP Solvent-Based Adhesive, but that product is apparently contraband in Connecticut. Given the VOC content of the product and the State regulations, it cannot be shipped into the state.
Sigh. It is the perfect product for what we need to do.
Okay, punt. Go find a suitable replacement. Well, all the replacements are labeled "interior only." No surprise there, since they are all latex or acrylic-based.
After much cogitating on the issue, I picked up a one-gallon pail of Henry's FRP-444 adhesive. This stuff is supposed to be good for adhering FRP (of which class Filon is a member) to plywood. It sports a reasonable open-working time. What could be better other than an exterior-specific solvent-based glue?
Well. We rehearsed the process, applied the adhesive, placed the panel, and were quite surprised that the adhesive failed to "skin over" as advertised. It also failed to achieve any apparent tack. Had we not used band clamps to force the FRP to comply with the curve of the hatch, adhesion would probably not have sufficed. As of this writing, some 9 hours later, we still are uncertain that the adhesion between the Filon and the plywood is working.
Why?
Possible explanation #1: At the time we applied the adhesive this morning the temperatures were in the 60s. The product specifies that the adhesive and the panels be above 70 degrees for 48 hours. I doubt this is the issue.
Possible explanation #2: The product is specified to have a one year shelf life if unopened. The date code on the container does not make clear what year applies. It may be very old product.
What's next? We'll leave the clamps in place until we feel it safe to remove them. Should the "globs" at the edges fail to solidify, we will have little faith that the adhesive will actually cure, and may need to peel the covering off the hatch and proceed to remove all the adhesive residue.
I hope it doesn't come to that!
I wanted to use Titebond FRP Solvent-Based Adhesive, but that product is apparently contraband in Connecticut. Given the VOC content of the product and the State regulations, it cannot be shipped into the state.
Sigh. It is the perfect product for what we need to do.
Okay, punt. Go find a suitable replacement. Well, all the replacements are labeled "interior only." No surprise there, since they are all latex or acrylic-based.
After much cogitating on the issue, I picked up a one-gallon pail of Henry's FRP-444 adhesive. This stuff is supposed to be good for adhering FRP (of which class Filon is a member) to plywood. It sports a reasonable open-working time. What could be better other than an exterior-specific solvent-based glue?
Well. We rehearsed the process, applied the adhesive, placed the panel, and were quite surprised that the adhesive failed to "skin over" as advertised. It also failed to achieve any apparent tack. Had we not used band clamps to force the FRP to comply with the curve of the hatch, adhesion would probably not have sufficed. As of this writing, some 9 hours later, we still are uncertain that the adhesion between the Filon and the plywood is working.
Why?
Possible explanation #1: At the time we applied the adhesive this morning the temperatures were in the 60s. The product specifies that the adhesive and the panels be above 70 degrees for 48 hours. I doubt this is the issue.
Possible explanation #2: The product is specified to have a one year shelf life if unopened. The date code on the container does not make clear what year applies. It may be very old product.
What's next? We'll leave the clamps in place until we feel it safe to remove them. Should the "globs" at the edges fail to solidify, we will have little faith that the adhesive will actually cure, and may need to peel the covering off the hatch and proceed to remove all the adhesive residue.
I hope it doesn't come to that!
Triphora Trianthophora
Around this time of year a very special native orchid blooms. Triphora Trianthophora is commonly known as the "Three Birds Orchid." It is not supposed to exist in Connecticut, but it does.
My wife knows of a very special site where this gem can be found. She refuses to divulge its location to the general public, fearing that it would be trampled by adoring fans.
It lives on slopes facing a certain direction that contain a high concentration of Beech leaves. Having been to the site, I can assure you that it is difficult to get there, difficult to get out, and difficult to photograph successfully.
That said, here is one of my wife's (Eleanor Saulys) shots from yesterday:
What a beautiful plant, especially considering that the above view represents a 2-3" vertical expanse. Look at the glistening petals. (Click on the image to view a larger, magnifiable version.) This is an incredible little plant.
Not to steal the show, but here is an image I took of the same flower back in 2009:
This is one of my favorite photographs, and is the background on my Android phone.
My wife knows of a very special site where this gem can be found. She refuses to divulge its location to the general public, fearing that it would be trampled by adoring fans.
It lives on slopes facing a certain direction that contain a high concentration of Beech leaves. Having been to the site, I can assure you that it is difficult to get there, difficult to get out, and difficult to photograph successfully.
That said, here is one of my wife's (Eleanor Saulys) shots from yesterday:
What a beautiful plant, especially considering that the above view represents a 2-3" vertical expanse. Look at the glistening petals. (Click on the image to view a larger, magnifiable version.) This is an incredible little plant.
Not to steal the show, but here is an image I took of the same flower back in 2009:
This is one of my favorite photographs, and is the background on my Android phone.
2013/08/13
Recent Observations
While preparing to apply the first piece of covering to the Teardrop (see separate post, probably tomorrow 8/14) I've been out with the camera looking for things to photograph.
Here are some recent observations, in no particular order.
Berries:
Least Sandpiper:
Little Blue Heron:
Marsh Mallows:
The Ubiquitous Sunflower:
Eastern Yellow Swallowtail:
The beauty of Nature is all around and so easily discovered. All one has to do is pause and look.
Here are some recent observations, in no particular order.
Berries:
 |
Least Sandpiper:
Little Blue Heron:
Marsh Mallows:
The Ubiquitous Sunflower:
Eastern Yellow Swallowtail:
The beauty of Nature is all around and so easily discovered. All one has to do is pause and look.
2013/08/06
Signs of the Times
Two signs of the times were to be seen today:
This mother Black Duck and her ducklings:
Nesting season is over.
Next, people have said that it is too early for the tree swallows to be flocking, but the facts belie that:
This shot fails to convey the hundreds of swallows congregated nearby.
This mother Black Duck and her ducklings:
Nesting season is over.
Next, people have said that it is too early for the tree swallows to be flocking, but the facts belie that:
This shot fails to convey the hundreds of swallows congregated nearby.
The Filon is Cut
The covering for the trailer is a product named Filon, a fiberglass-reinforced plastic, or FRP. I ordered three pieces. It comes in 102" width, and I ordered two pieces 144" long and one piece 65" long.
The 65" piece will cover the hatch. One of the two 12-footers will provide two pieces 18" wide by 12 feet for the lower sides, and the remnant, just under 65" wide, will cover the top. The other 12-footer will provide two pieces 43-44" wide for the upper sides, with the remnant being used for miscellaneous parts, such as the top of the trailer sides at the hatch area.
Today we cut the rough-sized pieces. The two upper side pieces are flat on the table.
Here we see the top piece (bottom), hatch and lower side pieces draped over the trailer counter to their curl.
Next we will put the hatch back on the table, prepare it for covering, and add the covering. Since the hatch is the smallest piece, it will provide a good learning experience for the balance of the trailer.
The 65" piece will cover the hatch. One of the two 12-footers will provide two pieces 18" wide by 12 feet for the lower sides, and the remnant, just under 65" wide, will cover the top. The other 12-footer will provide two pieces 43-44" wide for the upper sides, with the remnant being used for miscellaneous parts, such as the top of the trailer sides at the hatch area.
Today we cut the rough-sized pieces. The two upper side pieces are flat on the table.
Here we see the top piece (bottom), hatch and lower side pieces draped over the trailer counter to their curl.
Next we will put the hatch back on the table, prepare it for covering, and add the covering. Since the hatch is the smallest piece, it will provide a good learning experience for the balance of the trailer.
2013/08/04
Final Profile is Revealed
I mentioned in an earlier post that there was a lot of detail work getting the sides and the top in agreement and arriving at the final profile. Well, that work is now complete.
Our next steps are to unroll the Filon and cut the Filon sheets to the rough sizes we will be needing. For economy, there will be a horizontal joint on each side at the "waist line" - the common axis of the two ellipses. (For more information, see an earlier post on the geometry of the profile.)
Once the sheets are rough-sized we will cover the hatch as a test / learning experience. After the hatch, we will probably do the top first then the sides.
Our next steps are to unroll the Filon and cut the Filon sheets to the rough sizes we will be needing. For economy, there will be a horizontal joint on each side at the "waist line" - the common axis of the two ellipses. (For more information, see an earlier post on the geometry of the profile.)
Once the sheets are rough-sized we will cover the hatch as a test / learning experience. After the hatch, we will probably do the top first then the sides.
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