Polyester resin

[Kez]

I need some polyester resin to layup a few small parts (cowling and fuel cell). Don't know any local fiberglass supplier but the Bondo resin and cloth are available at Walmart.

Question: Is Bondo inferior in quality? If so, in what way? Bondo and other brands meant for auto body repair are thicker in consistency. I noticed they do not wet out cloth as easily. They are also finishing resin with wax added.

Can I add some fumed silica to the resin and use as the gelcoat?

Thanks,

Kez

 

[dwilfong]

When I did glass work for a living 30yrs ago we made gel coat by mixing talcum powder with the resin.

we also mixed finely powdered asbestos with the resin to make puddly that was as black as coal and stronger than steel.

 

[P THOMAS]

I need some polyester resin to layup a few small parts (cowling and fuel cell). Don't know any local fiberglass supplier but the Bondo resin and cloth are available at Walmart.
Question: Is Bondo inferior in quality? If so, in what way? Bondo and other brands meant for auto body repair are thicker in consistency. I noticed they do not wet out cloth as easily. They are also finishing resin with wax added.

Can I add some fumed silica to the resin and use as the gelcoat?

Thanks,

Kez

It is the same stuff just different brand name polyester resin Try it out Go with the instructions I think about 10 drops of catalist per once of resin would make it set up quick for a gel coat.

 

[DENNY]

I need some polyester resin to layup a few small parts (cowling and fuel cell). Don't know any local fiberglass supplier but the Bondo resin and cloth are available at Walmart.HI KEZ

I have built many hulls and molds and found the best place to get my resins is from MERTON'S

in MA. they have a online site with mail orders. they carry every thing you might need ( gell coat,

resin, cloth and pigments.) in small and large qunities. If you call him he can answer any of your questions too. I have used him for years and he has the best prices and quality.

DENNY

Question: Is Bondo inferior in quality? If so, in what way? Bondo and other brands meant for auto body repair are thicker in consistency. I noticed they do not wet out cloth as easily. They are also finishing resin with wax added.

Can I add some fumed silica to the resin and use as the gelcoat?

Thanks,

Kez

 

[Kez]

I need some polyester resin to layup a few small parts (cowling and fuel cell). Don't know any local fiberglass supplier but the Bondo resin and cloth are available at Walmart.HI KEZ

I have built many hulls and molds and found the best place to get my resins is from MERTON'S

in MA. they have a online site with mail orders. they carry every thing you might need ( gell coat,

resin, cloth and pigments.) in small and large qunities. If you call him he can answer any of your questions too. I have used him for years and he has the best prices and quality.

DENNY

Thanks all for your replies.

The weather was nice on the weekend and I was itching to try out the mould before I read all the replies. The Bondo is definitely thicker than most laminating resin. I can not say it is a disadvantage because it all depends on the application. When HobbyPoxy and K&B used to sell polyester resins, I actually preferred the hobby resin because it flowed almost like paint. It worked perfectly to seal the inside of a glass hull as it levelled out by itself. The Bondo does not flow easily but it is OK for lamination.

Another problem with the Bondo is that it is a finishing resin. So I need to keep adding cloth to it before the previous layer has set up so there is a chemical bond. Once the finishing resin has set up, the surface needed sanding to remove the wax.

I just check the Merton's site. They have everything I need there. The problem is the lightest cloth they carry is 4Oz. I prefer a 3 Oz cloth, followed by a layer of matt and then a 3 Oz cloth for a 40 size boat.

Thanks again.

kez