epoxie ???????

[woodster]

just wondering if any one has pos or neg feed back on using 2 part epoxie purchased from the big box stores ei home depot or lowes.... elmers brand i think its is .......would be useing it with cloth and matt and maybe rod fabric.....

regards
woody

 

[KD3PC]

why risk it? Use West or one of the marine grade epoxy...although elmers is good, I am not sure I would riskit with a marine application...

all the best, and let us know how it works for you.

dave

 

[caguy]

you know there are different types of epoxy vs resin, Make sure yu are using the right one for the right job.

 

[sailingdog]

I wouldn't use epoxy from a big box store unless it was a brand that is specifically designed for marine use. West Systems, System 3, MAS, Progressive Epoxy Polymers all make epoxies designed specificially for marine use. Progressive Epoxy is probably the best priced of the ones I mentioned.

 

[Ross]

First off most mat (CSM) is not compatable with epoxy. The sizing used to hold it in sheet form doesn't melt in epoxy resin. Secondly the cost difference is not large. I don't like to compromise and then worry when I get caught in a blow.

 

[Chuckbear]

First off most mat (CSM) is not compatable with epoxy. The sizing used to hold it in sheet form doesn't melt in epoxy resin. Secondly the cost difference is not large. I don't like to compromise and then worry when I get caught in a blow.

Huh, I have been using mat with epoxy for decades, admittedly West System and MAS, and have never had a failure in strength or adhesion, and the only issue with using any cloth and epoxy is the need to reach the proper saturation. For strength and structural stability a minimum of 40 oz. is what I prefer to use in biaxial. Mat is generally used as a finish layer and for minor repairs where stress or flexing will not be an issue. This is from West System website:

Can WEST SYSTEM® epoxy be used to wet out chopped strand mat? The answer is yes. The fiberglass strand in mat wets out with epoxy, but the binder holding things together does not dissolve. (It does get put into suspension and is sealed in the cured epoxy.) This undissolved binder causes the wet-out mat to remain a bit stiff compared to wet out with a styrene-based resin. For gently curving or flat projects like cabin soles or plywood decks, mat and epoxy should work fine. The fabric does not wet out perfectly clear with epoxy. Wet-out clarity of mat with epoxy varies somewhat with different suppliers, but none of them wet out as clear as a good 4 oz or 6 oz fiberglass cloth.

Chuck

 

[zeehag]

i use fromk dmc--diversified materials co---they i believe are online and much MUCH less pricey than worst marina as worst HAS ot get their 400 percent martk up for marine use---lol--ever try to undo epoxy ?? marine is same as other--not the filler--donot use bondo--LOL---gawd--stuff isnt even good for cars LOL....get the stuff ye needs--newer boats use vinylester or polyester and older boats--before 1979..generally use something entirely different and more toxic--laws were made around 1973 against the "good stuff" and boating was forced into polyester and vinylester resins--use the right one or it wont work...goood luck--look into diversified materials--you might just like them...LOL...my boat is built of the older stuff despite being newer than 1973 because those laws were put here first--then forced on the rest of the industry--i csn use regular epoxy for my formosa but i have to use the polyester stuff for the ericson..lol...oh yes--the mat is crap--use the roving--the woven stuff has much more strength....mat is spozed to be filler material....goood luck....try diversified materials and have some dough left over for other projects--why bow to worst marines way jacked up pricing?? never buy retail..>LOL.....

 

[Ross]

When you use CSM with ester resins you can cover a ball perfectly smoothly the strands will slip and you can stretch the sheet. CSM between plies of rroving make a better bond and laminate than you can get with layers of roving only. Mat by itself is not very tear resistant.

 

[zeehag]

When you use CSM with ester resins you can cover a ball perfectly smoothly the strands will slip and you can stretch the sheet. CSM between plies of roving make a better bond and laminate than you can get with layers of roving only. Mat by itself is not very tear resistant.

the shipwright i hired in 1990 taught me first roving then roving then mat then roving--allll squeegied down with epoxy--lol..i had a yorktown40 being built then--they are very tough hulls and are made thick--mine was 27 hand laid layers of cloth --alternate roving with mat and is strong...and lay the roving down in a different direction each layer--lol....so the weave is crossing and making extra strong....reminds me i have glass work to do yet in formosa--lol not looking fwd to it..LOL......

 

[sailingdog]

Woody—

Highly recommend you read this post I did on cored composite construction for GRP boats. This will give you a better idea of why you should use epoxy for repairs.

just wondering if any one has pos or neg feed back on using 2 part epoxie purchased from the big box stores ei home depot or lowes.... elmers brand i think its is .......would be useing it with cloth and matt and maybe rod fabric.....

regards
woody

 

[woodster]

thanks everyone for there input....i am glad i posed this question ...it has given me a lot to study and research .......and the artical that you posted was most helpful as well sd just the sort of thing i was looking for...again thanks everyone .....

regards

woody

 

[sailingdog]

Glad to help Woody.

 

[jcastle]

Great posts, and a lot of good information. Here is a good source to buy the different types of marine resin.

 

[sailingdog]

One of the best sources for marine-use epoxies is Progressive Epoxy Polymers, out of NH.

 

[Hermit Scott]

The elmer's brand is better resin than your boat is built out of. If you use it, make sure you have preped the suface well to get good adhesion. Of course that's true no matter what you use.
Elmer's (polyester resin) sets up in 15 or 20 minutes. Most epoxy will take 24 hours to really set. It depends on the job I am doing which one I will use. If you want to save a buck, buy it and do some tests for yourself if you have any doubts. It is much tougher than what you will hear people say. Most of them have never used it personally, they just assume if you buy it at home depot it can't be good.
If you use it below the water line I would "paint" it with epoxy or another barrier coat. Polyester absorbs water more than epoxy.

I bought some polyester resin at a boat store, just to fill in some holes int he deck, nothing structural. It cracked drying in the sun and I had to cut it all out and refill it. I have a high opinion of elmers compared to other things I have used. It is easy to mix, and predictable.

 

[jibes138]

This has come up in the past in terms of supply of resins and fabric. I'd appreciate your consideration of my good friend Joe Merton at www.mertons.com for buying your materials. I grew up with Joe and he has great prices and great advice. Operates out of Springfield, Ma. Someone checked him out a while back and he had the best prices they could find. I haven't seen Joe in years but thought he could use a plug.