Epoxy brand

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Ken Cross

Ken Cross

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Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
I'm planning to start a new stitch & glue drift-boat project. Yes I know it doesn't have a sail:cry: My question: the folks who made the plans advise West System, but there are lots of brands of epoxy. Other than them being the most famous, is there a practical reason for this? What would you do. This is for both adhesive and for fiberglass covering of wood.

Ken
 
B

Bobalu

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Jan 1, 2012
2
C&C 30 Redwing South Haven
Ken Cross said:
I'm planning to start a new stitch & glue drift-boat project. Yes I know it doesn't have a sail:cry: My question: the folks who made the plans advise West System, but there are lots of brands of epoxy. Other than them being the most famous, is there a practical reason for this? What would you do. This is for both adhesive and for fiberglass covering of wood.

Ken
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I use MAS Epoxy for stitch and glue boats. Good pot life, no blush, and fairly easy to sand and clean up.
 
KD3PC

KD3PC

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Sep 25, 2008
1,069
boatless rainbow Callao, VA
I have used west on several projects, even wood...even stitch and glue as well as the thin plywood skiff and a Reedville, VA family boat weekend boat.

While both system 3 and west are great, I go with West as the support is the best in the industry. These guys wrote/write the book on epoxy construction of boats. The product does what they say it will and if you run in to any problem, you get to speak to the most knowledgeable people in the industry. The problems I have had, have all been learning and self induced.

As denise says, 207 is your friend for strips, like their 410 is for fillets..

I learned, see above, to use quality rollers, clean cups, and accurate measuring and you can have outcomes approaching professional quality.

Best of luck, and building a stitch n glue is the best relaxation, I have found...it will be so nice when finished, you may not want to use it...
 
T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
I have also had good luck with the MAS and find the 2:1 ratio much simpler and tolerant of small mistakes compare to a 5:1
 
Merlin Clark

Merlin Clark

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Oct 26, 2005
2,057
- - Satellite Beach, FL.
I used West for probably 17 years but my problem was not using a gallon kit fast enough to use up the hardener before it aged. I don't know the reason for the color change, just that it makes the resin opaque and I can't see if there are any air bubbles in a layup. Still works though.
This last time I needed epoxy I bought RAKA because of the price and kit size and am not happy with it. The medium viscosity resin is pretty thick and the hardener they advertise as non-blushing is very slow to kick.
Next project I'll go back to West and either a smaller kit or a gallon of resin and smaller amount of hardener.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I have built only one and used polyester resin and after fifteen years I have not had a single case of delamination or joint failure. Either type seems to be stronger than the wood. I would let ease of use determine my choice were I to build again.
 
25yearslater

25yearslater

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Aug 20, 2010
1,399
Oday 27 Oak Orchard
I used West Systems exclusively on my recycling project and am amazed at the results. As kd3pc says their tech support is the best. Couple that with their extensive testing and as close to guaranteed results as anyone is likely to get.
 
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Wanderer138

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Apr 19, 1999
1,670
Pearson Wanderer Titusville, Florida
I've used West System and Epiglass for stitch-and-glue dinghies. Both worked well as adhesive, in fillets with microsilica and for wetting out glass cloth. Darkening of regular hardener with age won't matter if you're going to paint the boat or if you use it within a few weeks of opening the can. West 207 clear hardener is very expensive for regular epoxy work, but produces outstandiing results when doing fine work...like clear-finished strip planking.
 
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