Let the bagging begin!
Well, let's get into some new stuff, shall we? As I've been saying all along, I want to vacuum bag the final parts. Why? Vacuum bagging helps 'consolidate' the laminate layers and forces excess epoxy out of the part. Achieving the correct ratio of epoxy to fabric is key to getting the strongest, lightest possible part.
I'm not going to get into a discussion of autoclaves except to say that I don't have one!
For our purposes, a wet lay up and vacuum bagged part will be just fine.
So, here we go!
First, the 'tools of the trade'. This pics show the basic stuff we'll need. First, that clear, pinkish material is the bagging material. I use something called 'Stretchalon' that has the ability to - wait for it - stretch! This makes it a bit easier to get it to do some of the trickier stuff and allows me to make small mistakes and not pay a big price in terms of creating a bridge, etc.
The roll of yellow stuff is 'sealant tape'. Essentially a strip of goo that we'll use to seal the bag.
The thin, lighter weight material is called 'release peel ply' or just 'peel ply'. It is treated with a magic substance that won't bond with epoxy. Once I do the lay up, I'll cover the wet laminate with a layer of this and when everything cures, I'll be able to - here it comes again - 'peel' it off the part!
Finally, the fluffy looking material is called 'breather'. It sits on top of the peel ply (which is pourous, by the way) and it absorbs the excess epoxy that the vacuum squeezes out of the laminate as it's curing.
Pretty simple, eh?
