Reasons we chose G-10 for most of the backing blocks as we reinstalled deck hardware on Calypso.
Links:
Jigsaw (Amazon)
Router (Amazon)
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Music: “Slow Down” by Yvette Craig
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Steve says
I am also using a lot of G10. I find G10 from Defender is cheaper than from McMasterCarr, but Defender has somewhat fewer dimensional options than MC.
The Bosch fiber/plaster blade https://www.boschtools.com/ca/en/boschtools-ocs/t-shank-jig-saw-blades-specialty-t141hm1-29813-p/ blade cuts G10 like butter, but other jigsaw blades we have tried are detoothed almost instantly; it was absolutely worth the high price per blade (almost $13 each on Amazon, at the time of this writing) and the blade holds up very well.
Not only is G10 rot free, but it is free from galvanic reactivity too, so it is better than a metal backer against another metal, or with fasteners through it. I also think it has compression and deformation resistance, for the boater’s purposes, comparable to SS or other metal backing plate materials.
Of course, being epoxy, polyester resin will not adhere to G10, so using G10 is a permanent commitment to using epoxy, rather than polyester resin, for further bonding directly adjacent to it. And it is flammable (but not at as low a temperature as polyester resin).
Nica, it is good that you created this very practical episode. The many benefits of G10 don’t seem to be well enough known among the broader cruising community.