: I'm presently working on stripping my first boat. The stations are 1'-5
: 1/2" apart. The strips are cove & bead: 3/4" x 1/4".
: What is the best way to secure the strips between the stations? When I
: staple the strips to the station, the strips bulge apart in between
: stations. In one instruction I've seen the strips stapled together in
: between the stations. Is this the best way?

I use at least 3, 1" spring clamps between each station to clamp and align
strip edges. Placing the jaws across the joint is usually enough to hold
the strips together. If the joint is not tight, then use a bar clamp to
squeeze the joint and then apply spring clamps. I do this BEFORE
I apply any glue so I can see how well the strip joint fits and if any
extra measures are needed to make it fit, like bending the strip using a heat gun.

The spring clamps alone will allow you to dry fit each strip before gluing.
This is well worth the time, because a poor fitting strip will make you
work ten times over to fix that spot.

Once you like the fit, apply glue, clamp in place then you can use staples
between stations to hold the strips in place. If you use staples hold your
staple gun at a 45˚ angle so your staples will have greater holding power.

Like the idea behind the copper wires used in plywood, stitch-n-glue boat
construction, I use hot glue dots, to tack my strip joints together
so I can remove the clamps and go on to the next strip.

Many people tape or just leave the clamps in place until the glue dries,
but this takes a lot of extra time, that I don't have, as a professional builder.

Coastal Tool has great prices on spring clamps. I suggest 3 dozen to start.

Have fun.

Rob