epoxy sealing

[anthony_marquart]

I was looking into sealing my hull with West Systems epoxy like many of you reccomend and I was wondering what it is about west systems that is so important.

Is it possible to to use a standard automotive grade 30 min epoxy the same way? I plan to paint over it anyway.

Your thoughts?

 

[PondSkimmer]

From what I gather, most "epoxy" resin is polyester based and not a true epoxy. Polyester products shrink back a lot, and leave a film that is very hard to get rid of after it cures,so when you paint over it the odds of getting a fish eye problem is very good! Once you have these fish eyes all over your boat you will be sorry that you didn’t spend the extra $20 or $30 on the west systems epoxy resin.

I am just now using the west systems epoxy to seal a miller boat, this is the best stuff that I have ever used! It is worth every penny they charge for it!

 

[MikeP]

I always had to mix such small amounts of the regular epoxy that it would take forever to do a small hull. Then it doesn't sand as easy as laminating or finishing type epoxies. There are many brands of good epoxy for finishing wood, West Systems is available for most people locally and is good stuff.

Personally I think there is some better stuff out there for less money, when this gallon of WS I have is gone I am going to give some a try.

Mike

 

[Don Ferrette]

Well for what it's worth, I've test tried alot of other stuff but I always use West Systems when I want it done right first time every time. For me there is nothing else....... B)

 

[rcboatlover]

What about the stuff they sell at the hobby store? Z-Poxy, NHP (Northeast Hobby Products), or the stores "name brand" epoxy? Do you guys think they stack up to West Systems?

Dale P.

 

[ScottVanSlooten]

For finshing a hull the makers of z-poxy make some stuff called finshresin that works very bit as good as WS Scott

 

[MikeP]

Well for what it's worth, I've test tried alot of other stuff but I always use West Systems when I want it done right first time every time. For me there is nothing else....... B)

Don,

Have you used PRO-SET or MGS?

 

[Don Ferrette]

Well for what it's worth, I've test tried alot of other stuff but I always use West Systems when I want it done right first time every time. For me there is nothing else.......  B)

Don,

Have you used PRO-SET or MGS?

Mike I haven't but for me the West Systems stuff is easy to get locally & I've always had excellent results, better than other stuff I've tried. Sooo... keeping it simple, that's what I will continue to use, unless someone can prove why a particular brand is worth going out of my way to get. B)

 

[Don Ferrette]

For finshing a hull the makers of z-poxy make some stuff called finsh resin that works very bit as good as WS Scott

Hmmm, gotta disagree a little with this one Scott. When I build up a hull the W/S is used for building & sealing plus the slower the cure, the stronger it is. When you add up the costs of enough bottles of finish epoxy to equal the same quantity of W/S you'll actually spend more. :huh:

 

[Eric Perez]

Anothony, going back to your original question.

I only got WS a few years ago, after I had curing problems with "thinned" down store-brand epoxy. Haven't really had much problems with generic epoxy when I followed the instructions -but I tend not to paint my wood boats.

The store "brand" finishing epoxy will work just fine -Especially if you do the paper towel method -which does not leave that much epoxy left on the wood.

As far as finishing the boat with $100.00 /quart PPG paint on top of the epoxy... I have no clue as to what the end-result would be. If you are going with the bare wood look with a couple of well placed decals then it's not that important.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Everyone has their own preferences for what they use, be it cost or whatever. One basic underlying fact is that the slower the epoxy takes to cure, the more opportunity you are giving it to "wick" into the woodgrain. That makes a stronger boat & tougher finish. Ever see what a tub inside that is done in a "finishing" epoxy looks like after an unexpected fuel leak? Now I do keep 10 minute epoxy in the spare parts box for emergency repairs at a race but for building, sealing & finish coats it's West Systems. It keeps things simple in the shop.......