Paint and Finishing
Applying Epoxy to a Wooden Hull
Playing
cards are an effective way to apply an epoxy finish coat to a wooden hull.
An epoxy finish is difficult, but the results are as good as varnish and
much tougher. I finished my crackerbox with a layer of fine fibreglass cloth and
finishing epoxy, applied with a deck of dollar-store playing
cards.
Finishing epoxy is not nearly as self-leveling as most paints, so
applying it with a brush almost always leaves you with a lot of post-finish
sanding. Instead, try using a playing card like a putty knife to trowel epoxy
onto the surface, then spread it evenly. The surface will be left very smooth,
and sanding will be minimal. When one playing card gets at all goopy, rough or
tied up in fibreglass bits, get another. Chances are you have 51 more, without
the jokers. Never use the jokers -- you've got enough to worry about.
David Hutt
