On your fill coats do you use the heat gun? Do you also tip off? If so before or after the heat gun? I tried it both before and after tipping off. I can't say I see any difference? What I didn't try was heat gun only.

I rarely use a heat gun. Once in while I'll make a quick pass to pop bubbles. I've found it doesn't make much difference with the epoxy I use. I roll and tip my fill coats.

Would you put an abrasion strip on with tape or can I use 1678 strips? How wide you you make them? There seems to be lots of variations.

I reinforce the stems with bias-cut fabric. The strips are anywhere from 2-3" wide. Most commercial fiberglass tape is really heavy weight and doesn't seem to wet out clear. Standard stuff.