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PhantomBoatwork · 12-02-2012, 06:09

I used stitch and glue on my 44 trimaran and on a couple of small dinghies. We used #12 copper wire and thickened epoxy to bond the edges before taping. The wire pulled out easily once the epoxy fillet had set, and for those difficult ones, we touched the edges with a battery charger to heat the wires for a few seconds and pulled the wires right out. Copper wire is smoother than steel and is very easy to remove. I mostly just cut the twisted part with a pair of side cutters and then gently eased out the wire. Fast and easy.

Efraim · 12-02-2012, 06:12

You can heat the SS wire using a cheap 12 volt battery - once you get going it's pretty fast, the wire is very easy to remove, no vice-grips required.

capt.bobfm · 12-02-2012, 07:15

I have built quite a feu stich and glue boats and after the first half dozen or so, I decided that pulling the wires out (most of 'em would snap off) was a waste of time and gashed nuckles. Now I just leave them there and after gluing the inside, cut them off short and use a grinder to smooth the stubs to thr level of the plywood. Works great ,and in 20 years I haven't seen a single problem with a seam.

**s/v Jedi** · 12-02-2012, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordMay

You must be much older than you appear.

William Petersen, of De Witt, Nebraska, invented Vise-Grips in 1924.
➥ The Vise Grip Company of Nebraska

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Nick, you tell him

, knowledge comes with age.

huh?! There were people in Nebraska in 1924?! In a town called De Witt, which is a Dutch name for a person?! Vice grips, made out of metal in 1924?! wow!

So, when did they appear in the hardware stores around the US? Even in the early '80s they were not sold in Holland yet (my family owned hardware stores so I'm pretty sure as I worked weekends there..)

ciao!
Nick.

Nikolina · 12-02-2012, 10:26

So it wasn't as hard as I imagined, I went with the fillet the whole thing and pull them out in the morning, easier than I thought. Those that where at a hard angle to the pull got the solder iron for minute and came right out. As far as the vice grips go I used regular pliers and my GI Joe Kung ** grip instead. While I still have it! Again Thanks to all.

Its not what I know, but who I know that knows!

SkiprJohn · 12-02-2012, 12:02

I've stitched with wire but the next time I'll use strands of fiberglass from cloth or fine roving. Never have to worry about removing the stitches that way.
kind regards,

bobconnie · 12-02-2012, 13:02

Wire tyes wire tyes !! LOL snip off and finish up !! Easy peasy Bob and Connie

44'cruisingcat · 12-02-2012, 13:07

Instead of wire I used plasterboard screws and a cordless drill/driver. Just screwed them out when the glue was set, and filled the holes when taping.

You can re-use the screws over and over.

**s/v Jedi** · 12-02-2012, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Instead of wire I used plasterboard screws and a cordless drill/driver. Just screwed them out when the glue was set, and filled the holes when taping.

You can re-use the screws over and over.

But but...

where did the screw go exactly??

ciao!
Nick.

44'cruisingcat · 12-02-2012, 18:37

Through the corner of the join. Not difficult at all.

**s/v Jedi** · 12-02-2012, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Through the corner of the join. Not difficult at all.

You mean the two parts overlapped? That wasn't the case with the dinghy I built, which were plywood pieces but-jointed so really need stitches.

ciao!
Nick.

44'cruisingcat · 12-02-2012, 22:38

The material I was using was 18 - 20 mm thick. But IMO it would also work with thinner material - instead of drilling the hole for the wire, just substitute a screw for the drill bit.

**s/v Jedi** · 13-02-2012, 05:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

The material I was using was 18 - 20 mm thick. But IMO it would also work with thinner material - instead of drilling the hole for the wire, just substitute a screw for the drill bit.

I'm sorry but how is a screw going to hold two pieces together when you can only screw it into one of the two? The stitch and glue method is used to pull two pieces together to a butt joint. The two pieces of thin plywood are stacked, drilled and stitched; then they are opened like a book, normally resulting in compound curves with a lot of tension, and fixed in the desired position. That is when the fillets are put in, stitches pulled out, holes closed, fiberglass tape over the fillets etc.

ciao!
Nick.

denverd0n · 13-02-2012, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

So, when did they appear in the hardware stores around the US? Even in the early '80s they were not sold in Holland yet...

I'm amazed at that. I bought my first set of Vice Grips in the early 70s. By then they were extremely common and available in every hardware store in America, and had been for... I don't know, probably at least 15 or 20 years.

I guess that just goes to show how much less "global" the world was 30-40 years ago.

**boatman61** · 13-02-2012, 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by denverd0n

I'm amazed at that. I bought my first set of Vice Grips in the early 70s. By then they were extremely common and available in every hardware store in America, and had been for... I don't know, probably at least 15 or 20 years.

I guess that just goes to show how much less "global" the world was 30-40 years ago.

Naah... they were around in the 70's... usefull part of my toolkits...

It's just back then then he was likely to gripped by other vice's to notice...