Build log · Phase 6, Mouldings, head and rudder

Twelve hobby knife blades later

17 November 2019 · Milestone · How-to · Problem and fix

On Friday I sawed out the new grating, with the holes for the seats of ease a little more towards the centre as Herby63 recommended. Now to line up the grating openings, and that is not so simple. I was curious whether I could get it reasonably neat by drilling. Otherwise I will just take the old grating and move the seats of ease a bit inboard. But it is a fun job, so we will see where the ship runs aground.

The third grating sawn out and marked up
The third grating sawn out and marked up
On the drawing, with the seats of ease moved towards the centre
On the drawing, with the seats of ease moved towards the centre

Twelve hobby knife blades later there is finally a new grating. The first attempt was fairly hopeless: two drilled holes per opening, which I then cut out lengthways and tried to smooth with the drill. As I said, hopeless.

The first cutting attempt with drilled holes: hopeless
The first cutting attempt with drilled holes: hopeless

So I decided to do the lower part once more. On the second attempt no more drilling, only cutting. First drew out all the grating openings and then cut them out with a No. 11 hobby knife blade. Because of the tight spaces the tips of the blades snapped like anything, but fortunately 200 new ones are on their way. The final result, I am very pleased with. All attempts lined up once more: it turned out to be the one on the right.

The final grating at the bow
The final grating at the bow
All attempts in a row, with the worn blades; it turned out to be the one on the right
All attempts in a row, with the worn blades; it turned out to be the one on the right

The reason I am taking so much time over this is that I am still waiting for parts. As soon as they arrive I can get on with other things again.

To varnish or not

So far I have not varnished anything. On my previous boat I varnished more or less everything, but neither the hull nor the deck of the Diana has seen any varnish. Should this grating get some, and if so which varnish? Peter de Vries does not necessarily varnish, but uses a heavily thinned matt polyurethane varnish. Jaques usually uses Glitsa water-based floor varnish, quick-drying and easy to sand. Hans Groenenberg works with a very matt varnish from a spray can for a thin finish, or Danish oil. Danish oil I have plenty of; a spray can is usually not a success with me, I get too enthusiastic too quickly and the varnish runs. Piet admitted that advice on varnish is difficult because it comes down to taste: he sometimes applies a very thin coat of water-based matt varnish to keep the colour, since untreated wood discolours over time. I will simply try things out and pick the nicest.