: How do you get a nice clean edge cut when the cloth hangs down from the
: upside-down hull? I imagine the epoxy will wick into the cloth below the
: shearline despite best efforts to only apply it on the cloth lying
: directly on the hull. Can I use scissors to cut cloth that has green epoxy
: on it? I have used a utility knife to trim glass off the edges of butt
: joints but in that case I could place the panel so that the glass was on
: top of a hard surface to cut against. With a hull, I'd be "cutting
: against the air."

Maybe I've heard the term "Sheer line" and thought "Shear line"

I've used metal shears (tin snips, or aviation snips) and they go through the epoxy saturated fabric with ease. A strong pair of scissors will also work, but don't use your best pair. They will get a lot of wear from a few short cuts.

When finishing the edge of a canoe 9 which will be hidden under the gunwale, I've also used a metal file and pushed the loth against the edge of the strips. one stroke, at a 45 to 90 degree angle, usually files through the glass layer. Then I'd move down an inch and repeat the process. 'The file works fine on green or fully cured fiberglass. It leaves a white edge, but that disappears under teh next coat of resin. I've used the same technique, but slower, to finish the edges of formica laminates. if you are working on an edge that will alter be joined to a matching deck or hull then be carefull with the angle you hold the file so you don't round over the edge you are working on. and if you do, don;'t sweat it. That area will get coered with glass strips or tapes when the sections are joined and the slight rounding won't be visible.

hope this helps.

PGJ