Anatomy of Gluing the Side Panels

Today's gluing of the side panels went pretty smoothly. I am sure the test run I did at the apartment a few weeks ago helped, as did the test run today before I mixed up the epoxy. The following pictures were taken during the test fit this morning as I set up to glue the side panels together. Fortunately, I remembered to put parchment paper down on the masonite base before actually gluing the panels together! Otherwise I would have had a mess of a problem tomorrow!

Step 1: Lay the recently glued up full-length chine-logs across three saw horse to support the panels.



Step 2: Support blocks so the side panels do not sag when clamped.



Step 3: A masonite base to support the join while the epoxy sets up.



Step 4: Side panels in place.



Step 5: Butt strap with pin-nails to keep the strap from slipping around on the epoxy.



Step 6: Spacer block to raise the clamp block above the pin-nails.



Step 7: Clamp block - a piece of 2x4



Step 8: Clamped in place.



I took everything apart, put parchment paper on the masonite base, mixed up some epoxy and applied unthickened epoxy to both the side panels and the butt strap. Then I added filler to the epoxy, got the consistency I wanted, applied it to the butt strap and the panels (making sure I covered the edges), and clamped everything together. The panels didn't sag when clamped, the strap stayed put, and epoxy squeezed out from under the strap.

All in all it went pretty well. I suspect tomorrow's glue set-up will take less time and go smoother.

I am very pleased with today's efforts.