Laminating Curved Parts with West System Epoxy

In this video, Mark from Nomad Boat Building walks through the wood lamination process for wooden boat construction, focusing on laminating a stem and transom knee using West System Epoxies.
Laminating is a critical technique in traditional and modern boatbuilding, especially when creating strong, stable parts with tight curves that would otherwise require steam bending. Mark explains when and why to laminate, how to design effective lamination molds, how to choose veneer thickness, and how to calculate the correct amount of epoxy for a successful glue-up.

You’ll see step-by-step demonstrations of:
* Building lamination molds (solid and truss-style)
* Cutting consistent veneers safely
* Using backing bands and clamps correctly
* Performing dry clamp runs
* Applying epoxy for optimal penetration
* Managing spring-back and final cleanup

This is a practical, real-world guide aimed at wooden boat builders, DIY boat projects, and woodworkers looking to master structural laminations for marine use.
If you’re building a strip-planked boat, restoring a wooden hull, or learning traditional boatbuilding techniques, this video will give you the confidence to laminate parts that are strong, fair, and long-lasting.

🛠️ Sponsored by West System EpoxiesChosen for their strength, reliability, and long open working time—ideal for complex laminations. Visit West System: https://www.westsystem.com/

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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: What Laminating Is and Why It’s Used
02:05 Overview of Laminating the Stem and Transom Knee
02:11 Designing and Building Laminating Molds
05:50 Laying Out and Cutting the Transom Knee Mold
08:37 Band Saw Cutting and Refining the Mold
10:35 Taping the Mold and Adding Clamping Blocks
12:48 Building a Truss-Style Mold for the Stem
14:55 Cutting Veneers for Laminations
17:12 Preparing Laminations and Backing Bands
18:52 Dry Run: Clamping Strategy and Setup
24:16 Calculating Epoxy Quantity
25:30 Steam Bending Veneers for the Stem
26:54 Glue-Up Process Begins
28:10 Mixing and Applying Epoxy
33:28 Clamping the Lamination to the Mold
36:15 Removing the Lamination and Discussing Springback
37:29 Final Thoughts and Outro


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My website: https://www.nomadboatbuilding.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadboatbuilding/