Thanks

I have been using duct tape and wooden clamps I have made and it works well in the initial stages. It was when removing the wooden clamps to put the second strip that the twist in the strip was peeling away the duct tape from the form.

Have taken on all the advice and will try various things when I get home tommorrow.

Another thing I have thought of is estimating the bevel in the flare of the bow and once I have the second and maybe third strip on, then twisting the strips at this point to shape the flare and attach firmly when the two sides meet. This would give me more leverage to twist the material and more surface area to attach to the form. (Got the idea from spidey's photo where he stipped a number of strips together before shaping them to the forms)

Thanks

Simon

: Hi Simon;

: My techniques have changed over the past weeks, as I'm working on different
: parts of the boat now. I am using hot air more than steam, but the results
: are the same - The hot air on my present "twisting" strip
: operations seems to be faster, but conditions are different. The sheer
: strips are the worst of all for stapleless construction. But once you get
: past these, it is all downhill . . .

: The absolute first strips to go up represent the biggest problem. You can
: only secure them with hot glue at the stations, and with wood glue at the
: bow & stern. It is best to work with full length strips at this
: juncture, even if you have to scarf them together from shorter strips.
: Using clamps, tape, and hotglue, get the sheer strips into place as best
: as you can. You should not have to steam these first strips. Use duct tape
: to secure the glued sheer strip joints at the bow & stern, and go back
: and reposition the sheer strips at each station, using hot glue as
: necessary. There is not much "holding power" at this point, and
: the wood glue joints at the bow & stern together with the duct tape
: are the real workers. Subsequent strips will only make this initial layup
: attachment stronger. If you constructed the plywood clamping jigs I
: described, their use will make it easier to position the earliest strips
: as you are attaching them.

: I have to go and color Easter Eggs now, please write if you need further
: clarification, and please don't drive any staples in the meantime . . .
: [g]

: Spidey