Thanks The response on this topic was most gratifying - I shall no longer wonder about what I may be missing in Dynel. I hoped for - and received answers from folks that have actually worked with the stuff.
The short story is that it is not stronger, crappy to sand (even if you are singing the song) and produces heavier results. The cost issue is a non-starter - input from Kevin Angus is terrific - go look at (http://johnrsweet.com/Polyester.html) - Dynel now costs about the same as glass cloth of similar weight. Another great URL from Kevin - http://www.auromat.com/auromat_eng.htm - I cannot wait to run some trials with this stuff (2.5mm plywood substitute) Regards Steve J Africa I essence: Orma sez: = I originally started using Dynel and found it un-acceptable - dropped a screw driver from waist high and it went though the wing skin Harold Woods sez = It is not as strong as you are lead to believe. = One layer of boat cloth (6oz) is far stronger than 1 layer of dynel. = You can tear a layer of finished dynel - not do the same with glass. = Dynel looks thin - fuzes out requiring much more epoxy to cover it. = adds unneaded weight = Dynel has a very slippery property - try sanding - you will curse it. Dick Hartwig Waunakee sez: = easy to work with - formed well to compound curves = on the bias (45%angle) it would conform to a tighter corner than fiberglass = did fuzz up when the epoxy was applied - did sand out OK. = The big problem with it is weight - absorbs a lot of epoxy = I will guar-awn-tee the dynel structure will be heavier. R.S.Hoover Sez: (I saw a guy called Bob Hoover do a dead-stick loop and roll in a Shrike Commander - South Africa 1977) = Kenny used Dynel because it was free - nuff said - RIP Unka Don Sez: = The word on Dynel - .. it soaks up resin like a sponge - final layup will be significantly heavier than glass. = final surface is not as nice and needs more work (read sanding). Mark Jones (The enthusiastic one according to aunt Glynnis) sez: "go look in the archives". He is right. I did try that first but somehow could not get any joy. Larry F: (the lovely man according to aunt Glynnis) is talking like all the other guys who have already cracked it - his bird is in the air and looking great - so they make laid-back funnies - mostly about weight and performance. John Kerry sez: It is a great product - terrible stuff to use.
