Mast repairs

[Derigger]

I'm always amazed by the wealth of knowledge on the forum, so here goes.

We have a 30ft sitka pine mast which has been stored for the last six years and subsequently is bone dry. It has split in two places, in the natural central glue area (its constructed in two wing profiles glued centrally). And secondly vertically for about 5 ft , oherwise its near perfect.

My questions, we plan to open the splits and use epoxy to fill/glue before epoxying and varnishing.

Will the epoxy provide a flexible enough cure, and does the moisture content of the wood make a significant difference?

Also does have anyone have experience of using oxalic acid to bleach wood prior to varnishing, advice on dilutions, cleaning off etc?

 

[AlexHall]

Have used epoxy successfully in regluing timber masts.Even very flexible ones!

That it is dry is to your benefit. But, because it is dry make sure that not all the glue has failed! If so redo the lot. If you do have to prise it apart use soft wooden wedges, nothing else.

Take your pick of epoxies, if the mast is well stayed and not too flexible you can use a resinorcinol, like Cascophen, Aerolite and even Cascamite.
Dont place clamps directly onto Spruce, make small cradles to clamp against, you'll crush the wood.

If its small stains, just use some teak cleaner or brightener. If not its about 5%, but htere is an earlier posting, else were in these forums which have dealt with oxalic acid in more detail.

Have fun.

 

[johnlilley]

Perhaps the most successful way is to use a router set up carefully on the split or failed section with an 8mm or appropriate straight cutter set for a deep cut. I find two cuts of about half depth is easier than one deep cut. Make a jig to clamp to the mast with shaped fillets to clamp on to prevent damage to the walls of the mast. Use a spline of similar timber glued in the groove and plane off when set. Perfect. The advantage of this is that you can be sure of a good glue joint as the timber is virgin timber afted cutting. And no further damage caused by trying to open the glue joint further with the risk of extendiong the failure.
It does woirk.
Good luck
John Lilley

John Lilley, John Lilley & Associates, Web site www.seasurveys.co.uk for osmosis /timber problems

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Martin,
A mate of mine had a problem when ants ate the glue on his timber mast when he stored it, wrapped in plastic on small chocks alongside his home.
He finished up pulling the whole thing apart, and, found the ants had eaten the glue in areas that looked perfect from outside.
Re glued with West System epoxy, still on the boat with no problems, that was over 10 years ago.
Hope this helps and does not alarm you.

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