Boat Builder Central - Builder Forums

I just wanted to share these with the forum.
I've been using a short piece of 3/4" schedule 1120 PVC pipe to make my fillets.
This has an outside diameter of 1.05" (.525" radius) so it makes a great fillet for fiberglass.
Jacques specified a 1/2" radius and this works perfect except when you have to pull that radius in the corner like
when installing frames.
I looked on the internet for a ball tool to do this and found them. The thing is they were made from stainless and expensive.
Every one I found was over $40.00.

Here is my solution,. I machined a spherical ball end that matches the PVC. You just press this into a short section of PVC and your set.
This truly makes the task easier to do. If a larger size is needed (1.25") I can run them as well.
I'm sending samples to Jeff today.
I hope you all will want to have one!

Where's the action shot?!

That is really a good idea. Any idea on the $$?

piperdown wrote: ↑Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:59 pm Where's the action shot?!

In the morning.

OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Thu Oct 25, 2018 3:03 pm That is really a good idea. Any idea on the $$?

That will be up to Jeff.

Nice way to make your hobby part of the business! I bet that these would make the corners much nicer!

I shared this on several Facebook groups. You would not believe how many people have told me to just form a radius on a squeegee.
I can only take the horse to the water....

I made up something similar but no where as nice.
Jeff please let us know if you do stock them.

Yes, Eric sent me a photo earlier today and is actually shipping me a few (UPS) today as well!! I think they are a great idea and will have them on the site soon!! Jeff

I use a washer on a stick.

I can cheat a bit if I am long or short on filler and I know what I can get away with.

Gonna be hard to compete with my price.

I gotta save every penny I have for Silvertip, right Jeff?

I don't intend to compete with you. It can be done your way. As much of the world wipes themselves with their hand, I get it, it works. I simply prefer paper.

Y’all have TOOLS for this?

I just used my finger. I guess I need to discover paper...

His tool does have one potential great use.

Finishing fillets.

Eric1 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 25, 2018 9:03 pm I don't intend to compete with you. It can be done your way. As much of the world wipes themselves with their hand, I get it, it works. I simply prefer paper.

Dang it buddy..............put a warning sign on stuff like this

We all have tools that we have found work best for the way we like to do some things but I am still on a quest to find that tool when it comes to "finish" fillets. One thing that Eric's tool will help is the angle you hold it is not that important so corners, double 90 degrees, will be cleaner that are hard for a lot of people. I can see using Eric's tool will keep me from flinging so much epoxy putty!

It does need a name and don't call it Eric's balls!

OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:30 am
It does need a name and don't call it Eric's balls!

Dear God No!

I did my whole boat with a 1" wooden dowel that was epoxy coated and it worked great . That being said i think Eric's
tool would work better and i will buy one to use . Definitely would work better in the corners

Gem from the Port A plywood boat fest......The guys at Chesapeake Light craft have some CNC precut various radius tools to the smooth a fillet with. They then went over with a cloth lightly with rubbing alcohol. NOT ISOPROPYL. Left only a little edge on each side of the fillet and was smooth as a babies behind. Have not started my build or done it myself but was quit impressive. He went over with the alcohol after it was getting pretty close to set up. Dougster saw this together and he may have some input.

Eric1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:34 am

OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:30 am
It does need a name and don't call it Eric's balls!

Dear God No!

Eric's Shiny Balls for help getting into tiny crevices!

piperdown wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 10:44 am

Eric1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:34 am

OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:30 am
It does need a name and don't call it Eric's balls!

Dear God No!

Eric's Shiny Balls for help getting into tiny crevices!

Yikes, now that's funny! My brother mentioned using a "brass sealant spoon" that he uses on aircraft when he and I were talking about building boats. I haven't tried it but they are cheap. I've always just used my finger with a size small glove on to make the fillet nice and smooth.

Dutch1 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 04, 2018 7:02 pm
I've always just used my finger with a size small glove on to make the fillet nice and smooth.

How do you get a small glove on those hands?!

BB Sig wrote: ↑Mon Nov 12, 2018 6:54 pm

Dutch1 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 04, 2018 7:02 pm
I've always just used my finger with a size small glove on to make the fillet nice and smooth.

How do you get a small glove on those hands?!

LOL, Where there's a will there's a way...

Normally, I use the xl gloves. We had a size small box at the house. I kept having trouble smoothing out the fillet with my finger due to the end of the glove having a crease. I thought a smaller glove would work and it does. But yes, it is tight and they will break easy. Now I just keep a box of small gloves around for that purpose.

I use a baby feeding spoon.

Looks like something a 3D printer could knock out with no issues.

Check out Puppydrum's post in his old XF20 build. Used a brick mason's tool from Lowes. A couple bucks.

You can get epoxy fillet tools in different sizes at art supply stores in the clay section and I found them in the cake decorating section too. Made of wood and plastic, I think I even seen them in metal. I was looking for powdered pigment to add to epoxy so didn't really pay much attention.

Did these ever make production. I haven't seen them on the website to buy?

No, I found them to be problematic.