I am having difficulty with the windshield to canopy fiberglass fairing. I have partially fabricated this fairing twice now with unsatisfactory results both times.
The issue I am having is with adhesion (actually the lack of adhesion) of the epoxy to the plexiglass windshield.
I have used vinyl tape on the canopy to keep the epoxy from sticking. No problems there. The windshield is masked using the same vinyl tape, two layers thick.
The desired area on the windshield, just forward of the screws securing the windshield to the roll bar, is roughed up using 60 grit paper.
The area is then wiped with a clean dry cloth, then blasted with air to remove any remaining sanding dust.
A layer of epoxy is then applied followed by the first layer of epoxy-saturated cloth.
I allow this to cure for 48 hours.
When I check the adhesion, I find that I can lift the now-cured fiberglass from the windshield with little effort.
This is my second time around. The first time I cleaned the area with acetone before applying the epoxy and cloth. A local aircraft composites shop advised against doing that because it 'slicks up' the surface that was just roughed up. The second time around, done without the acetone, I get the same results.
I am using the ProGlass Epoxy system. Suggestions?
Brian Southard
N355RV
The issue I am having is with adhesion (actually the lack of adhesion) of the epoxy to the plexiglass windshield.
I have used vinyl tape on the canopy to keep the epoxy from sticking. No problems there. The windshield is masked using the same vinyl tape, two layers thick.
The desired area on the windshield, just forward of the screws securing the windshield to the roll bar, is roughed up using 60 grit paper.
The area is then wiped with a clean dry cloth, then blasted with air to remove any remaining sanding dust.
A layer of epoxy is then applied followed by the first layer of epoxy-saturated cloth.
I allow this to cure for 48 hours.
When I check the adhesion, I find that I can lift the now-cured fiberglass from the windshield with little effort.
This is my second time around. The first time I cleaned the area with acetone before applying the epoxy and cloth. A local aircraft composites shop advised against doing that because it 'slicks up' the surface that was just roughed up. The second time around, done without the acetone, I get the same results.
I am using the ProGlass Epoxy system. Suggestions?
Brian Southard
N355RV