Deck Planking on Essex

[shortgrass]

Starting to plank the deck of the Essex. (whaling ship).  Just curious and would like some opinions.  The instructions say to use contact cement (glue) to adhere to deck planks to the false deck.  I have never done this before - always used Titebond type glue.  Opinions ???

[mtaylor]

Go for the Titebond or any good wood glue.  Contact cement looses it's bond fairly quickly.

[Jaager]

You could get a sort of contact cement type effect using Titebond in a particular way.

This is just theory - from something that I read.  I have not tried it. 

Apply a just wet layer of Titebond to both surfaces.  Allow the glue to dry/polymerize.  Place the plank in position and apply heat.  The two surfaces will grab.  I doubt that the bond is as strong as it would be using the normal technique.  It probably would be if a coating of fresh Titebond as applied just before the two surfaces were joined.

This may be a way to use PVA for hull planking where clamping is near impossible and like me, you are loath to have anything to do with using CA for anything. 

 

As Mark indicates, actual Dap type contact cement has no application on a ship model.  It does hold sandpaper onto a wooden support.  It is a chore to remove if the wooden support is one that you where will replace the abrasive.  There probably is no true solvent for it, But Naphtha  and Mineral Spirits will denature it.

[shortgrass]

Thanks for the feedback.  Really appreciated.  I will go with the TItebond.