I'm having to laminate 1/2" baltic birch sheets to a thickness of 1" and 1-1/2" for an upcoming project. More full sheet gluing than I've ever needed to do so I want to attack it as efficiently as possible. In the past I've just poured the glue out and used a roller to spread it around. This doesn't give me the consistent application that I would like to achieve with this next project - I was wondering if there is a trowel with a certain notch size/spacing that would leave behind the near perfect amount to minimize waste and squeeze out in the press (vacuum bag)? From my experience in commercial construction this seems to be the predominant method for applying and metering glue to sheet goods for wall coverings (like FRP), so it's seems like a more controlled process than just rolling it out.
From contributor Je
Problem I think you'll have is PVA has a very thin viscosity which is why I don't think it will work well with a trowel. Do some test pieces, but my guess is the glue is going to flow and may not consistently stay where you trowel it.
I find the best bet for gluing up full sheets is to have my supplier do it. I believe they use a feed through roller which coats the whole sheet in one pass. Then it's put into a press which gets them dead flat. And probably most importantly....it's less expensive then if I do it myself.
If your going something special, like full sheets on a curved form, then you may have to do them yourself. I'd get a 9" wide glue roller and attack it that way. Even if the glue spread isn't perfect, the even pressure of the vacuum should spread it out just fine.
good luck,
JeffD
From contributor La
I second JeffD on this one.
They make 9" roller covers specially for glue, work much better than paint covers.
From contributor La
Ive used small notched trowels for glue but it seems that a short nap glue roller works best. Ive been using the contractors pack of rollers from HDepot. Cheap. Disposable. They fuzz a little bit at first but this dosent hurt. A good storage container helps.
I cant seem to find a stainless roller frame that wont rust or corrode. I have shortened a long aluminum frame roller to work with a 9" cover.
