Preparation and Vacuum bagging

This section is missing some photos. Time is short and the laminating process must go fast before epoxy hardens.

1. Cut out all the materials needed
- Vacuum bag material
- wicking material
- perforated plastic film
- Tear fabric
- Glass fiber
2. Roll up everything but the vacuum bag material in separate rolls and set aside carefully and so you know whats-what. Think all the steps through first.

3. Set up your V-bag on a table or rocker table it you have one. I used a wide material folded over- Put the sealing tape on one side of the bag and leave the protective tape on the top side. This will be removed at the last step befre sealing bag. Put your vacuum fitting on the bag in a good position

4. Set up you laminating area and start by using a plastic "squeege" (skrapa) to put epoxy on the bottom of the blank- Then put each layer of glass on and apply epoxy with squeege, apply to center of board and work outward. Scrape of any excess before applying next layer. I mix about 2-3dl of epoxy at a time to keep the working time as long as possible.

5. Once all the layers are on, put down tear fabric, then perforated plastic film and turn the blank over to laminate the top side as above.

6. Put the wicking material on the vacuum bag and lift the board over, bottom down onto the wicking material. Put the top layer of wicking material over the board.

7. Close the bag by pulling protective tape off sealing tape and carefully sealing down bag. Avoid getting wrinkles- they can leak.

8. Attach the vacuum hose and turn on the pump. smooth out the V-bag as it gets tighter.
Use spacers and clamps to put in the rocker.

Here the bag is tight and the epoxy is "wicking" thru the perforated film into the wicking material- it is absorbing all the excess epoxy.
The Vacuum pump- no bigger than 1kg coffee. Amazing little device