: How badly did I screw up? This evening I started scraping and sanding the
: glue runs after glueing my Arctic Tern together, and while using my new
: ROS with 80 grit sandpaper, I noticed a the wood getting darker. Well, I
: thought, I must have left it on a spot too long without moving it
: adequately, and I've burnt the wood. Taking a scraper to the spot made it
: darker, though some of the dark surround lessened. Then, in the middle of
: the area, the spot changed composition and I finally got it -- I'd sanded
: through the first layer of teh plywood.

: Am I correct? If so, I assume that there's not much I can do to correct this,
: except learn from the experience. Fortunately, it's on the bottom of the
: boat where I won't see it when I'm paddling.

: Jim

Yes, You've sanded a bit too far. The ply's of this type are pretty thin and the glue is a darker color. The lightening of color is the next layer, running in another direction. It is posible to salvage this problem, but, maybe too time consuming and not worth the effort, since it is on the bottom. I have shaved a thin layer up with the plane before, off of a scrap piece and placed it over a sand/through, but, it is a lot of bother, and doesn't always look much better. If the spot is really bad, it may not hurt to try it. Titebond or II and some masking tape to hold it down till set up. Probably will never look perfect, but, may look better. Good luck if you try it, but, since it is on the bottom, you don't really have to.

Rehd