Armed Virginia Sloop by Model Shipways :: View Single Post

OK, I'm officially ready to start the planking. When I realized I'd done all the prep work, I grabbed my camera and snapped things just as they were, to document the transition. I didn't mean it to look like an ad for Titebond II. I'd just finished putting in the subdeck and waterways, it just happend to be sitting there when I took the shot.

I have to admit that I prefer to limit my CA use to small things that are hard to clamp and won't be stressed. CA is so brittle that I am a bit leery of it when working with wood, since wood "moves" with changes in humidity.

I like the longer open time that Titebond gives me ... I can apply glue to both surfaces without hurrying. The clamping time can be minimized if I keep the glue on each surface to just a very thin smear (the less glue in the joint, the stronger to bond). I let each surface air dry for up to a minute before I press them together. When I glued in the subdeck and waterways, I could hand-press the pieces for the couple of minutes it took for the glue to set, and "fine tune" the alignment where needed during that time. When cured, the glue remains slightly rubbery, so it continues to hold even if the wood moves.

Len, the kit's instructions say to start planking with the transom and counter. Is that what your practicum does too?