: The gaps will be fine once they fill with resin. Maybe you should tape up the
: gaps on the opposite side until they've filled with resin so the resin
: doesn't run through them

: When you do the deck go staple-less. When you use tape instead of staples the
: gaps will get a lot tighter. I usually use duct tape, but if I really need
: some holding power I use the strapping tape that has the strings in it.
: Without giving away what I'm working on now, I have quite a few strips
: that have to twist 180 degrees in 6 feet. That takes a lot of holding
: power, narrow strips, many clamps, and strapping tape to make it work.
: Staples would never do the job right in my situation.

Hey Dale

O.K., let me guess..... Uh, how about a mock-up Aircraft Carrier??

I have twisted strips 720* before snapping them and only because I tried to go more after they had cooled a little bit. You would just steam them, twist them into position, let them dry or cool and then dry and then just stick them in place and no tape or other bother. Just a couple of spring clamps or binder clamps.

Pardon the ritual taking place..... Ya had to be there..... But the broken strip was two complete turns before I broke it, and even after cooling and springback there is still a 360* twist in them The other strip was wrapped in a complete 360* bend and clamped end to end until it dried and then released and only opened that much. There will be absolutely No problems stripping any boat with this technique. Minimal clamping even in the bow and stern sections. The only drawback is, you need to let them dry out some before glueing. These were 3/16" x 7/8" x 5' white pine strips in the steamer only 15 minutes and they turned to spagetti.

Ooh, Ooh, it just came to me, you're making a barber pole out of the hull with wrap around stripping. I'm right, huh? And it only took two hits on this Big Ole Bong!! Uh, Steamer. YeeHaaaaww!!

O.K., I gotta go back to my room now. G-night folks!!

Rehd