Thanks Mike…
I do have an update. I had researched a lot of techniques as to how to accomplish this step from steam bending to making a male mold to bend strips around etc. I found a lot of mixed information and drawbacks many successes and a few failures. The biggest being spring back when coming off the form. I have had 10 months to question myself and my abilities since I started using the TD and waiting for the time to jump in.
I started with a 16’X12”X2” rough sawn piece of mahogany that was left over material from a handrail repair I had done on one of my fishing boats. I had it for many years not knowing what to do with it. This project took all of that along with a few remnants from the same job. What is left are a few extra strips that were for potential bending failures. So glad I didn’t have to buy this mahogany but was concerned with ruining it. Quality lumber from a hardwood supplier in San Diego.
As expected the hatch was the most difficult to bend the mahogany around. I am using four 1/8” by 2 1/2” strips overlapping the side strips so I end up with a 2”X 2” cap. The purpose of all this was to have no visible fasteners, no new penetrations and to reinforce/hide the 6oz/4oz glass overlapped seam on the roof line and the aesthetic look as a retro-build.
I stapled the end on my first section of strips with a T-50 stapler to try to control the very slippery bundle but it was of little help. What did work was clamping the end of the stack down and running a ratchet strap fore and aft to ease it down while keeping the pieces flush with each other. I staggered the ends as I went.
I was warned by Raka Inc tech support that this mixture was going to be very difficult to sand. For the first two sections I was able to chase the squeeze out with a rag and acetone as the bends were mild and I could shift the clamps. Not so with the hatch. Too many clamps and a much more radical bend. I felt lucky to get the strips down and in place before the epoxy going off. Spent hours cleaning up the sides of the laminates.
If someone wants feedback on the lessons learned throughout this just ask.
Got everything sanded out and stained yesterday.
Ralph