CUTTING C-FLEX

Tin snips will cut unsaturated C-Flex or bunch it together and cut it with a hacksaw.

To cut saturated fully cured C-Flex you need to use a hand power saw or angle grinder fitted with an abrasive cutting blade.   This method can be used to cut both the saturated and unsaturated material.   If you need to make a long diagonal cut on unsaturated C-Flex, place a piece of scrap timber under the material and cut through into the wood.

INSTALLLING C-FLEX TO THE MOULD

Ice picks, staples or large nails can be used to hold the material in place.   Generally, it is only necessary to staple the two outside rods in each plank. After the resin has cured, the staples can be removed or, if you have used stainless steel, have their ends ground from the inside. The planks should be butted side to side and not overlapped.

   Check over the job carefully before saturating; sight along the hard strands of the C-Flex to view the fairness of the hull.   You will find that by putting in a few extra staples and pulling a few hard strands, you will be able to save a lot of work later

SATURATING THE C-FLEX

Once the C-Flex is in place, the material is wet out from the outside with a coat of slow cure resin. This resin does not always wet through the C-Flex completely but this is not a problem and can be rectified once the hull is turned. It is important to use a slow cure resin to avoid shrinkage.

   You can use spray guns or hand rollers and brushes to apply the resin.   Roll a coat over an area, let it soak for a few minutes then squeegee off the excess. Do not over saturate – any dry areas can be fixed later.

LAYING UP OVER THE C-FLEX

After the C-Flex has been saturated and the resin has cured, the hull should be lightly sanded to remove any high spots and resin build-up.  

   The amount and type of laminate you will be installing over the C-Flex will depend on the design and size of boat you are building.   Your plans will show the amounts and type of reinforcing fibreglass required.

   The best practice is to start with a layer of chopped-strand mat next to the C-Flex,  laid up wet,  in combination with a layer of woven roving.   Usually the roving are run at right angle to the C-Flex.   We recommend that half the layers of roving, in the laminate, are across the grain of the C-Flex and the other half run fore and aft in the same direction as the C-Flex or diagonally.