Patch layers - Small to big or big to small?

[JohnAbercrombie]

My copy of Epoxyworks just arrived in the mailbox.
The 'shop talk' article got me thinking about how I apply glass layers for repairs.

The age-old question regarding the order of operations when performing a fiberglass patch repair—does the largest or the smallest patch go down first

https://www.epoxyworks.com/small-to-big-or-big-to-small/

An Epoxyworks subscription is free to addresses in the US and Canada, and there's always something interesting in each copy.
https://www.epoxyworks.com/subscribe/

 

[JKA]

Thanks for this great resource John, the digital subscription is international.

 

[JohnAbercrombie]

Thanks for this great resource John, the digital subscription is international.

Thanks for that clarification. Yes, I should have been more clear - the print copy is delivered free to subscribers in the US or Canada who request it. The digital format is available to everybody. And it doesn't expire - I'm amazed that my print copies keep arriving about 20 years on.

 

[CPS]

That article provides a good breakdown of the pros and cons of either option.

I've usually gone for smaller to bigger, but ideally capping with a layer of matt to make sanding easier.
Most kayak repairs tend to be easy to make way stronger than the original substrate in my experience.

 

[JohnAbercrombie]

Most kayak repairs tend to be easy to make way stronger than the original substrate in my experience.

Yes- avoiding the creation of a 'hard spot' can be challenging.