Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

[DualCore]

I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is on which method is better for joining plywood panels together (for a transom) and for bonding a transom to the outer skin of the hull. The 2 methods I see mentioned most often are:

Using PL Premium to glue the plywood panels together and to glue the transom to the outer skin.

Using a layer of CSM and resin to join the layers of plywood and to bond to the outer skin.

Is one of these methods better/worse than the other?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

The best way is whatever I've got on hand already,
thats also the cheapest way.

If I have to spend money its cheaper with poly resin and mat because it will take a lot of PL.

I like the PL but use it sparingly due to cost and the fact that you get more mileage from poly resin by adding glass.
You can also make your own putty from resin and fillers, so its more versatile than PL.
I also prefer the speed of resin for most applications.

But if cost is no object, PL is a very viable choice. I like its 30 minute window for situations where speed isn't important.

is that clear as mud now?

 

[redfury]

Re: Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

Cost being too much for PL over resin and Mat? I can get PL premium for $7 a tube ( industrial sized, not the home caulking gun size ) from the local lumber yard....poly resin goes for $45/gal plus the cost of the mat!

For what it's worth, I used less than a full tube to glue my 20x30 inch transom in. I used a 99cent plastic spreader with 3/8 notches. It was pretty well bonded the next morning, and I left the bolts in it for 48 hours to make sure it had a good chance to dry. I'm all over the PL premium as a product. And the mess was about as minimal as one could expect. A throw away rag and some acetone cleaned up anything that needed a cleaning.

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

FWIW, I am planning on doing my transom this weekend and I am planning to go the PL Premium route for laminating the layers together, but will most likely go poly and CSM for joining the transom to the outer skin.

 

[Robj]

Re: Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

FWIW, I am planning on doing my transom this weekend and I am planning to go the PL Premium route for laminating the layers together, but will most likely go poly and CSM for joining the transom to the outer skin.

That is how I probably would do it also.

Have a great day

Rob.

 

[DualCore]

Re: Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

Thanks guys. So I guess the bottom line is that either will work so use what you have/like...

 

[lowkee]

Re: Opinions: PL Premium or CSM and Poly resin

Seeing as you bolt a transom plate onto the transom, either way that thing won't be going anywhere. The important step is waterproofing it and bracing it via the top layers of glass. Leave the stress to thinking of that part