EPS Breather layer....Pono jrandy?

[outcast]

Pono , jrandy or other....

Were you saying that EPS sheets can work well as a breather layer?     I have plenty of 5/16 sheets lying around.   Was using quilting material, butthe eps is tempting as easier to work with maybe

If so, can it wrap rails and angles?.... Obviously when it's dry it just crumbles when flexed, but i guess it can make some bends when pulled down

[PonoBill]

I've only tried it for mostly for flat stuff. The geezer foil was built with EPS breather. It's especially nice that bag wrinkles don't get pressed into the surface. I also made a big sheet of fin glass with an EPS breather.

[jrandy]

I have never tried. It would be interesting to hear if it works.
I end up with thin sheets every time I hot-wire cut a blank from block EPS.
I do remember someone (Mataco) posting up EPS+PVC builds where they prebent the PVC with a heat gun to aid in vac bagging.
https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,27457.0.html
Let us know how it goes!

[PonoBill]

Ah, yes, that reminds me that the SIC guys use a heat gun to get smooth curves on the rails. I didn't really know why, but that makes perfect sense. The PVC will soften under low heat that doesn't melt it.

[outcast]

Thanks guys!

 I love the Forum for this kind of learning

Think I'll do at test rail wrap without making a poxy mess, but yeah it might keep bag wrinkles down and be smooth it it works

Add a poorly heated shack, a New England winter and a heat gun....   

[outcast]

OK ...so i did use EPS sheets as breather layer....and it can wrap rails as the vac comes up, it bends nicely....

For flat stuff it's ok....maybe really good, certainly looks good and clean....  but  while it will wrap a rail, initially it's stiff and flat, so when it begins to wrap, it overhangs the vac bag and then folds down on top of the bag making a crease in the vac bag as it folds  (top of the rail...bag pleats in)

But it definitely bends well...didn't crack/fracture...handled a 3" rail with good bend

So if it's 1/4"  on flat it's good, but i would only use it on a vac table and a half rail type bend...I was using a true bag, and couldn't keep up with the pinching....pulling the bag down wasn't easy as the vacuum  needed to bend it pulled the bag in too quick

[PonoBill]

I've never tried a rail, you're a brave dude.