Shop Tips » Working With Epoxy and Fiberglass

Bias-Weave Fiberglass

If you've ever struggled to make a piece of fiberglass tape or cloth lay smoothly over the sharp bow or stern of a boat you need to learn about bias weave fiberglass. This is simply ‘glass cloth or tape with the threads or weave running at a 45 degree angle to the edge of the cloth. Commercially available bias cloth and tape is quite expensive, but we can make our own out of leftover scraps of regular 'glass cloth. Simply cut a rectangle, of whatever size you'll need, from regular ‘glass cloth as shown in the sketch. Now lay the rectangle over the bow or stern and smooth it by pulling on the edges and running your gloved hand over it. Not only will bias cloth conform to and lay smoothly on almost any shape, but it is also stronger than fore and aft weave.

Lay the rectangle over the bow (or stern). Smooth by pulling on the edges.