The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction - WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

Chapter 21 – Laminating Veneer Over a Mold or Plug 237
Figure 21-12 Guidelines for edge setting. In some cases during fastening, a person may try to force or edge set poorly spiled
and fitted planks as in (1). This edge setting subjects the plywood to stresses in such a way as to distort it along the plank’s
edge, lifting it off the stringer, mold or previous layers of veneer, as in (2) where lumps are formed as the planking is stapled to
the stingers. Minor lumps can be stapled flat, but severe ones will not go away. Proper initial fitting is the best solution, as no
edge setting is needed. However, if a poor fit finds its way into the planking job, the solution is to fasten the plank flat, ignoring
the edge fit and relying on the gap-filling qualities of the epoxy mixture to fill the void.
distance on the temporarily fastened veneer all the way
from keel to sheer. Remove the marked veneer and trim
it to the line with a saw and plane.
Finally, trim veneers with a hand-held block plane. In
instances where you don’t have to remove much stock,
this may be the only tool you need. If you set the plane
blade a little deeper than you would normally, you can
remove material very rapidly.
When it is trimmed, position the newly spiled veneer
next to the master veneer on the mold for a final check.
You can usually hold it in place with your hands and
knee. If you marked and cut accurately, the veneer
should fit. Mark any humps or gaps on the edge with a
pencil, remove the piece, and lightly touch it up with
the plane. <strong>The</strong> first and last layers of veneer will be
visible and should fit well everywhere, but you can
leave 1 ⁄16" to 1 ⁄8" (1mm to 3mm) gaps between interior
veneers.
After you have fit the first plank, you will find that spiling
the next series of veneers is very similar: about the same
amount of wood will have to be removed from the same
areas for a good fit. As you become more experienced,
you will be able to anticipate the amount of material to
be removed. <strong>The</strong> job will progress much faster as it
becomes more repetitive, and you will soon see that you
can position a piece for marking in a short time. A
straight, true edge on the veneer is important because
a crooked edge will mislead you and slow progress.
As you fit veneers for the first layer, staple them to the
mold and bond them to any permanent members just
as you did with the master veneer. Be careful not to lose
your veneer angle. If you spile too much off the top or
bottom of a series of veneers, the angle will change in
that direction. Although a few degrees is not worth
worrying about, correct any substantial deviation by
installing a tapered veneer to restore your original angle.
Although it takes a little extra time, there are good
reasons to edge glue first layer veneers. Edge gluing
Figure 21-13 Fitting a veneer against a previously bonded
plank.