Release Fabric

[gbgreen59]

I'm building a board for a friend and I promised to deliver by a certain time. Ordered some release fabric that was supposed to arrive Last Friday. UPS found an empty box when they were going to deliver it to my house. It will take another 4 or 5 days before they can deliver it now. I needed to perform the vacuum bag layup on Saturday or my schedule would be delayed. Decided to try some liner fabric from the local fabric store. Used my seamstress wife as my local expert. I had some left over release fabric, so I took it with me. Found some fabric that looked and felt the same. Took it home and held my breath. I pulled the bag apart this morning, and the release fabric pulled off just like the real stuff. The fabric I bought locally cost $3.29 US for each yard at 45 inches wide. The release fabric I bought over then net is $8.00 US for each yard at around 50 or 60 inches wide.

Does anyone know of a reason not to use the fabric I bought locally? Or, maybe I'm the last one to find out that I've been paying too much.

[crabman]

The only reason for the price difference is when you buy ,you know its going to work and the composites companies have overheads . Saying that we often nip down to the local fabric shop .

[cuica]

What sort of fabric do you buy? (From the local fabric shop..)

[gbgreen59]

It is a very shear fabric used for lining garments. The fabric type is polyester. There is no texture to the fabric; it is very smooth. I was in the Hancock fabric chain.

Kind of a funny story to this...I went in the fabric store and felt like I would if my wife asked me to go by her some tampons. So feeling pretty sheepish, I asked where the lining fabrics were located. The kind lady sent me to the manly fabrics used for lining something like the ceiling of your car or upolstery. I had to go back and ask her where the shear linings, "like the ones used for lining dresses", were located. I came back with this pretty blue stuff like a prom dress would be made from. Maybe my wife will go for me next time...I have issues no doubt.

[Tom183]

So did you get the pretty blue fabric before or after the tampons?

[crabman]

Using tampons as breather fabric .Soak up the access resin a treat. exspensive though.

[gbgreen59]

Cuica,
I left out a little of the story for using the fabric. I did a test before committing to the real thing. If you buy from the fabric store, I'd do the same. Try out the improvised release fabric on some scrap to see if it peals off correctly.

[ScottM]

Well the other day I needed to repair my board. I got a big plastic sandwich bag and used a needle to punch lots of holes on one side. Then I folded some kitchen towel and placed inside the bag and used masking tape to seal the whole thing.

I hooked up to the vacuum punp and watched the resin bleed into the towel. When I pulled everything apart the job was tight and perfect!!!

Does make you wonder why spend money on specialist materials!! I'm thinking of making a spiked roller just so I can make my own preforated plastic sheet!!

[gbgreen59]

Nice...

[ScottM]

Yeah I'm going to try larger plastic bags and see how it goes. I don't see why you have to use specific materials, if you can get away with just regular stuff around the house.