Howdy Fp;ls ( that says folks when your hand doesn't itch )

I have been checking around here local, in Fresno, Calif., looking for materials to build a Skin-on-Frame Walrus, as per George Putz book, and ideas posted by Mike Hanks, Bill Price and others. I was off today and scowered the town to see what I could come up with.

Canvas: I found, at our local Tent/Awning fabricator, several things to ponder, and toss out to ya'll. First off: they carry 10oz cotton duck, @ $4.36 a yrd. They carry numbered "Enamel"(?) duck, but, only in 4,6 and 8. All too thick to try to stretch over a boat frame. They have in a catalog: #10 and #12 "Enamel" duck, which the Boss may or may not order depending on whether they think they could sell a whole roll. A roll is approx. 100 yrds. All their rolls seem to come in widths of 60" and 72". The price, on average, for the #10 and #12 E-duck run around $8.50 a yard, less the discount for buying a whole roll(???). (price depends on which supplier they use, but, will be close) The salespeople I spoke with mentioned that the cotton duck has a more open weave than does the numbered duck. The #10 E-duck is around 14.4 oz per yrd. and the #12 E-duck is around 11.4 oz per yrd.

The only sealant they offered was called CanVak and came by the gallon at a price of $24.00. Didn't get a close look at the ingredients, but, he said "Use Resporator". I read on the label that it was a "Water-Resistant" material, and not waterproof.

I also stopped by two or three foam fabricators, to see what they had and what it costs. Only one had ever heard of Closed-cell Minifoam, and he said I'd have to look to Northern or Southern Calif. to find it, probably around the boat-building areas. BUT.... he did have a foam called "Sign-Board", which is of a 4lb. or 6lb. density, yellow, hard/solid, can be scratched with the fingernail and can't be broken with the hands( I had a 4" square sample, 1 1/2" thick of 4lb.). I could not poke my finger into it, but, could scrape it out with the fingernail. This stuff is used to make signs that look like woodgrain, and other types, using sand blasters to shape it. It is also paintable. It is available in 4' x 8' sheets, in 3/4", 1", 1 1/2" and 2", but, can be ordered in 3" or 4". The price for 2"( the only one I could stomach asking about) was $389 a sheet. 8^P

Observations & Querries??

I couldn't help but wonder what the "Enamel" Duck was. It looked and felt just like the cotton cloth, but, they didn't have anything of the same thickness' per/weight to compare with. (Cotton/Enamel) If the enamel cloth is less pourous than the cotton duck, for the same weight then it would stand to reason that whatever sealant used would seal it much easier. Also, if the weave was tighter, then it may be much less proned to puctures. So, if the #12 @ 11.4 oz is easier to seal, and is more puncture proof than the cotton duck, and lighter than the #10 recommended by others, it would seem like a better deal. I haven't priced any of this material at the sites given by folks on the BB, as I was trying to find availability in my area so I can't compare prices elsewhere. From what I have read about the performance of the DACO UA7000 ( on polyester ) I would think that it was the best coating material, excluding price. But, how much does the price mean when one boat is leaking and the other is not?? My question here is: how does it perform on canvas( enamel duck ) as compared to polyester?

On the faom, I wonder if anyone else has seen this " Sign-Board " foam and knows of it's characteristics as compared to the Closed-cell minifoam. From what I've read on the BB, it sounds very similar. But, what do I know. I've never used the C.C.M.F. either. :(

Tomorrow, I'm off to the fabric stores and see what they have in Polyester cloth, and also to Wal-Mart as I recall someone mentioning they may have canvas sail cloth, and Home Depot as they may have canvas drop-cloths.

I've aquired some craft paper in a large roll and will draw out Putz' forms, only about workbench size. His forms are a gross waste of plywood for only one boat. I believe a couple of other folks have cut them down to mount on their existing strongback/workbench. That will make it easier to set up and work around. ( IMHO ) Then I can clean it all off the bench, and start my G.A.

Any thoughts on this Enamel Cloth? ( #10 vs. 10oz. vs. #12 ) Any thoughts on the use of this Sign-Board foam? Any thoughts as to the use of the GACO UA7000 on canvas? ( I haven't read all the posts earlier, so there may be something I've missed on that.)

Rehd