Aye.

And a KFC Spork is perfect for lifting just the right amount of wood flour out of the little plastic bucket it comes in.

What does the alcohol do, keep the spoon from sticking?

Mark

Yup, keeps it from sticking.  Jer

Does Alcohol have any negative effect on epoxy curing?  I ask because I use an alcohol-based hand cleaner to take epoxy off my hands (if/when a glove tears, for example). 

I know you can thin epoxy for spreading, but I can't remember what ingredient was called for... (mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, etc.)....

 Appreciate inputs - this is a really good idea for smoothing epoxy fillets.

Larry

Denatured alcohol is a solvent for uncured epoxy and can be used to thin resin. It should not be used as a hand cleaner, though, as it can facilitate absorption of resin into skin. Use an abrasive hand cleaner or soap for that.

Jerry Mcmanus,

Your excellent photos and clear narrative are keeping me alive while I search for a space to build a PocketShip.

Have you done any more work on your PocketShip since the last photo posted on your me.com gallery? If so I would love to drool over photos of your latest work.

Also, do you think a band saw is an essential tool for the project?

Sincerest compliments and thanks,l

Phil Geren [email protected]

Thanks for the kind words, Phil.  "Management" takes me to AZ for the Winter and my building on the PocketShip hull comes to a stop in late-Oct and will resume in May.  In the meantime, I'm cutting the trim pieces and building the rudder.  I have access to one of the best equipped wood shops I've ever seen and am making use of the machinery while I can.  

Probably don't need a bandsaw, but I got one anyhow.  I've used it a few times and it may have saved an hour or two of hand sawing.  I got a 10 incher from Home Depot for about $100. 

I'll post some photos shortly as I build the rudder. 

Cheers to all & stay warm.  Jer (aka mtsailor) http://gallery.me.com/jermcmanus

A band saw definitely would have been useful on my recent Pocketship build. It would have made some of the milling easier and more accurate than the extra long jigsaw blades I had to use on some of the thicker curved parts.

Dave,

http://pocketshipadventure.blogspot.com/

My last post is Oct.23 but I promise to update with lots of photos once I get "True Love" back on the water in the spring. 

Hi Jerry -

I really like the black stripe along the shear of your Tern.  Is the stripe painted on after varnishing (or before varnishing) or is it some type of vinyl striping?

I find white vinager is the best and safest way to clean hands and tools of uncured epoxy.

It's also cheep. 

For Howard H.  The black stripe on the Arctic Tern was painted on using normal enamel oil-based paint, like sign painters paint.  Lightly sanded when dry, then the final coat of resin applied to seal/protect it.  Then seven coats of varnish.  Good luck.     http://gallery.me.com/jermcmanus