Class Globe 580 Build
Building frames C, D & A.
The work continues, frame by frame. Each frame usually took a day but more complicated ones, like Frame S, took me over two days. These photographs hopefully illustrate my step by step process.
Frame building on my plywood "floor" table.
I begin by laying out all the pieces for the relevant frame, comparing the layout to the sheets. Then I measure and screw everything together. Double checking the measurements, drawing lines on the table for reference and generally locking everything down. After that, I take it all apart again and lay each piece out with the side to be epoxied facing up. Check again all looks good, it's time to mix up the epoxy and go for it. The mixing, wetting out, adding thickner and screwing together usually took me 45 mins. Then go over every joint and clean up excess epoxy as much as possible. Then walk away !
Feel free to ask any questions...
Time to stop admiring the timber and get glueing. Finally getting to build a piece of Hull 57.
So I set up an 18 mm sheet of plywood as my work surface. I've no table big enough, so it's on my garage floor, battens underneath, straight and level. It is screwed to the floor, so nothing moves !
Then it's on to setting out the pieces and the plywood gussets. I laid out the pieces, checked and double checked the measurements, clamped in place and then screwed the plywood gussets to the wood frames. Then I marked with pencil where the epoxy was to go and took it all apart again. The plywood work surface was covered in painters plastic sheeting and the frame re-assembled again. More checking of measurements, center lines and cross measures. Then take apart again for glueing.
The stainless steel screws I'm using are two sizes so far. 5 x 25 and 5 x 40 mm, A4 316. It seems I'm using more of the 5 x 40 than expected. They were delivered from Inox.ie in Tipperary, my home county. A very efficient company, answered all my questions and next day delivery. What more could you ask ?
The West System epoxy works really well. First I wet out each joint, then quickly add thickener and apply as gap filling. Then working systematically around the frame, I line everything up and screw in place. Continually checking for alignment of edges and pre-marked lines on the work surface. With the last of the filler, the screw hole are filled, hopefully never to be opened again!
Final checks until everything gels and I can do no more.
The next instalment in building a Globe 580 from a plywood kit. My kit consisted of 25 sheets of 9mm Okume plywood, beautifully cut with a CNC machine into a jigsaw of pieces. These have to be cut out, the tabs sanded off and sorted into bundles for future assembly. The boat frames are constructed from Douglas Fir timber, with plywood gussets binding the corners. Everything is glued together with two-part epoxy and sheathed with fiberglass cloth.
A jumble of cutouts, ready to assemble.
I finally had an excuse to buy a Japanese saw, which cuts on the pull, not the push like Western wood saws. The finish is beautifully fine and close, I'm hooked.
