Splicing damaged wood strengthens the existing wooden structure by applying new wood. This technique offers a durable solution, restoring the strength and stability of the wood without compromising the original structure.
C2.1 Remove the paint from the degraded wood. For sanding, use an (eccentric) rotary sander and sand down to bare wood.
C2.2 Remove the degraded wood by sawing around the affected area in the healthy wood. Use a splicing saw for sawing ‘along the wood grain’ and the oscillating saw for sawing ‘across the wood grain’. Saw cuts across the wood grain are preferably to be made at an angle of approx. 30º, making the adhesive joint with the splice easier to apply without air inclusion (step C2.8). If necessary, use a chisel to dress the cuts as flat as possible. In doing so, avoid damaging wood fibres on the contact surface.
C2.3 Check that all degraded wood has been removed. The wood must be uniform in colour and must not be soft or crumbling. If any of these flaws are found, remove the degraded wood to a minimum of 5mm in the sound wood structure using the router equipped with a half-round bit (diameter 9.5 mm, speed 22,000 rpm).
C2.4 Cut the splices to be fitted. Then check the measurements, taking into account the necessary gaps for resin:
DRY FLEX® 1 minimum 5 mm – maximum 15 mm
DRY FLEX® 4 – 16 minimum 5 mm
BIO FLEX™ ALLROUND and COOL minimum 5 mm
C2.5 Measure the wood moisture content of the joint with the EASY-Q™ wood conditioner CS1. If the moisture content of the wood is too high (≤ 18%), allow it to dry naturally in the open air.
C2.6 Remove loose exposed wood fibres from the routed surface by sanding. Carefully remove any wood debris and dirt.
C2.7 Apply DRY FIX® UNI to the contact surface thinly but fully. Allow to penetrate for at least 20 minutes. Check within 45 minutes that the DRY FIX® UNI has penetrated properly (the treated surface will then have a nearly matte finish). Remove (dab off) any surplus DRY FIX® UNI with absorbent paper towel or a lint-free cloth. The repair paste should preferably be applied immediately after treatment with DRY FIX® UNI. If the repair paste is applied later, this should be done within 24 hours after applying DRY FIX® UNI and the repair surface should be checked for contaminants.
C2.8 With the smallest EASY-Q™ stainless steel modelling knives DRY FLEX® or BIO FLEX™, apply to the existing construction and the splices in such a way that an optimal contact of the wood is obtained. Apply the required amount of DRY FLEX® or BIO FLEX™ in a “triangular shape” to the splice. Press the spice evenly against the contact surface of the existing construction; the applied “triangular shape” DRY FLEX® or BIO FLEX™ extrudes outwards (both top and bottom) and fills the entire adhesive joint. Avoid air inclusion in this process. To prevent displacement, use a chock.
C2.9 After sealing according to the RCI method, use the correct RCI modelling method.
C2.10 After curing, remove any chocks that may have been used. Then remove the top layer (amine layer) by sanding DRY FLEX® or BIO FLEX™. If necessary, sand the entire surface mechanically smooth and even. Interfering irregularities and transitions between wood and the DRY FLEX® or BIO FLEX™ used must not be visible afterwards. Carefully remove the sanding dust.
C2.11 Smooth out any small irregularities (surface filling) according to method P9.
C2.12 Treat according to painting advice. Always use a primer as a base. When time is important factor a quick drying primer can be used.
The number behind the type DRY FLEX® refers to the curing time. It should be noted that the curing time of the products depends on the applied layer thickness and the temperature of the surrounding environment.
