Boat building Epoxy

[DougSchultz]

West Systems' Pro Set epoxy is the best resin I have used for boat layup. I have built at least 100 Leecraft tunnels with it and it wets out easily, has a long working time depending on hardner, sets in fairly low temperatures, and lasts forever. We laid up the boats, let it set for an hour or so then set the resin in a simple "oven" at 120 degrees. The resin is hard in a few hours. I was going through 5 to 10 gallons a year, but I have had the last of the resin for 5 years since I stopped laying up lots of boats. I can't recommend building important structural things with it, but it still sets up as well as it always did.

Lohring Miller

I have built a couple of stock outboard boats and have repaired at least a dozen using West System epoxy

and was worried about the structural integrity of old epoxy myself. About the time I was going to

throw some out and order new, West came out with an article in their magazine about the tests they

had done on aged "in the can" resin. They claim that even though the color had shifted to an amber

color, there was no deterioration of the strength of the final product. I figured that since they are

in the business of selling new epoxy, they were doing us a favor by printing this info and have no

problems in using epoxy that was ten or more years old.......not as pretty as the new stuff but just

as strong. Actually, the hardener turns brownish red in color but never had a problem with it setting up.

This article is probably too old to be in their archives on the web site but you might still want to

check the site to pick up a few tips on the use of their products. Here is link to website....check it

out for a lot of useful info and answers to other questions in this thread.

http://www.westsystem.com/

Rick Maston at Maston Marine stocks most of the West System products in smaller quantities and

his website is: http://www.mastonsrcmarine.com/

West systems also offers a repair kit so you can buy in small quanities

 

[Tony Jacuzzi]

I do something similar, I ended up with a pile of new 1 oz squeeze bottle with caps that were being thrown out from a local marina. I take one and fill with the resin and one with the hardener, drill the eyedropper insert to 1/8 inch then just count the drops in a 5 to 1 ratio. Its simple and stretches the West Systems a long way.. TJ

Guys,

I use WestSystems exclusively. I keep the pumps on the cans, as the tech notes provided by WS state exposure doesn't effect performance.

Here's a little trick for those who only build one or two boats every once in a while. It really sucks to have to pump out a whole "batch" of epoxy when you only need to glue up a couple little pieces. It also sucks to have to let projects sit around until you have enough of them to justify pumping a whole batch. Here's the solution. Call up a friend in the medical field and have them "procure" a few graduated syringes. Fill them up with resin and hardener (seperately, of course) and dispense a fairly accurate micro-batch whenever needed. I use a 12cc syringe for the resin and a 3cc for the hardener. The larger is graduated by .2cc and the smaller one by .1cc. I can dispense as small a batch as 1cc with enough accuracy to ensure proper mix. The only time I pump a full batch is when I'm sealing or building sponsons (WOF).

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

 

[P THOMAS]

I do something similar, I ended up with a pile of new 1 oz squeeze bottle with caps that were being thrown out from a local marina. I take one and fill with the resin and one with the hardener, drill the eyedropper insert to 1/8 inch then just count the drops in a 5 to 1 ratio. Its simple and stretches the West Systems a long way.. TJ

HEy I like that idea

The pumps are 5 -1 ratio and it is a good idea to check them if they are used alot

Pump 5 hardner into a container and one resin into a same size container they should be equal volume.

If you want to clean West pumps Use acetone for the resin pump and just hot water for the hardner pump.

There is a brown stop inside the pump that limit the stroke of the pump, if this slips out of place the ratio can be off.

PHIL

 

[Tim Kish]

Has anyone tried using the 207 Hardner 105 resin combo without clear coating the boat after with paint ?

Will it stand up to high nitro 65 -75 % or will the nitro attack the epoxy. ?

I would like to finish my new boat in natural wood and keep it as light as posible .

Thanks Tim K