What Epoxy are you using

[hydro rob]

After failed search attempts,...

What epoxy are you guys using for construction? ex. 30min hobby store brand, MAS, West???

And to get that nice natural finish and to seal the boat, what are you using for that? ex. Finish resin, Aeromarine finish epoxy, West, MAS??

There is just so many options, I would rather see what you are using, before I make a purchase. Thanks.

 

[HOTWATER]

After failed search attempts,...

What epoxy are you guys using for construction? ex. 30min hobby store brand, MAS, West???

And to get that nice natural finish and to seal the boat, what are you using for that? ex. Finish resin, Aeromarine finish epoxy, West, MAS??

There is just so many options, I would rather see what you are using, before I make a purchase. Thanks.

I would also like to know what is most commonly used by you guys...will Zap 30 min. epoxy be ok to seal the inside of the tub, or is that not fuel proof enough? Anybody know what Remy uses on his Aeromarine hulls to seal the wood rails with? Seems like it is a fiberglass resin...

-Kent

 

[Jim Caldwell]

Mas for me, for bonding and finishing.

 

[Al Hobbs]

I like West Systems. To get a nice natural wood finish, I brush on West Systems, scrape the surfaces with a plastic card, such as a motel door key card, to get rid of any excess. Then fine sand and do it all over again before painting with a hardened clear coat finish.

I am not very good at painting, so most of my riggers have a lot of natural wood finish showing with some bright color areas so the boat is easy to see.

 

[Mike Hughes]

West System for me. Do not use the 30 min fo rthe tub. I have seen way to many boats that have and the fuel/oil gets under it. Spends some money on a good epoxy and you will not be disappointed.

Mike

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

West Systems epoxy

105 Resin

206 Slow hardner,

If you need to speed it up you can use 205 hardner

As far as a good natural finish, sand you hull down to about 320 grit, clean VERY well, them shoot Dupont Imron 500S clear on it, several light coats, letting it flash off between coats

 

[JeremyEdge]

West systems all the way for me.Pricey but very good.

 

[hydro rob]

so would West Systems 105A and 206A for bonding and 207-SA for finish, be enough for 3 Jae's?

 

[HOTWATER]

I have seen the West System "repair kit" for sale on a couple of sites...would one of these kits be enough to use on 1 rigger? Has anybody used these? The price seems good...

-Kent

 

[Brad Christy]

Kent, Rob,

Get a quart of 105 resin and the appropriate size 206 hardener (it's about a pint, I think), and you'll be good to go for 2-3 full scratch built boats. I use this mix for both building and sealing, inside and out. I would not, however, leave ANY epoxy exposed to fuel. I always paint with clear (PPG 2021 polyurethane) over the entire hull, inside and out.

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

 

[HOTWATER]

Kent, Rob,

Get a quart of 105 resin and the appropriate size 206 hardener (it's about a pint, I think), and you'll be good to go for 2-3 full scratch built boats. I use this mix for both building and sealing, inside and out. I would not, however, leave ANY epoxy exposed to fuel. I always paint with clear (PPG 2021 polyurethane) over the entire hull, inside and out.

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

Thanks Brad! Just trying to stay below the financial radar on some things. Can clear urethane (SprayMax 2K) be sprayed onto the West Sytem epoxy without any bonding problems?

-Kent

 

[Tony Newland]

So epoxy isnt fuel proof? is there anything the average guy can use without setting up a paint shop with a booth to paint one boat? lol

 

[Neil LaGarry]

5 min can dis- color with nitro ,break down. Reseal over the 5 min with 30 min, 30 min is safe with nitro I have used Sig resin for building & sealing is 1/2 the price ( old school )Never any rotten wood with Sig I like KlassKote, can add up$ but I have colors

 

[ww29]

i never used west systems. this is my first build for rigger (jae.12)i want to use it is there anything i need to know about using it?is the 105a and 206a?

 

[Roxyflash]

I like the MAS medium epoxy for building wood hulls.Its thicker then the west but is great for gluing.It also seals wood.Doesnt blush.Easier to mix 2 to 1 ratio.I will not go back to west system over rated.

 

[Don Ferrette]

I tried the MAS epoxy as I found the mix ratio appealing. Went back to West Systems and personally I don't think it's over-rated at all since it works the best for me. B)

 

[ww29]

any good tips on using the west systems?how many coats do i put on?

 

[HOTWATER]

I like the MAS medium epoxy for building wood hulls.Its thicker then the west but is great for gluing.It also seals wood.Doesnt blush.Easier to mix 2 to 1 ratio.I will not go back to west system over rated.

Roxy, where do you buy your material (Mas)from?

-Kent

 

[HOTWATER]

I like the MAS medium epoxy for building wood hulls.Its thicker then the west but is great for gluing.It also seals wood.Doesnt blush.Easier to mix 2 to 1 ratio.I will not go back to west system over rated.

Roxy, where do you buy your material (Mas)from?

-Kent

I just read your response to this Don and I am fully into your opinion on this...Thank you!

-Kent

 

[Bill Gibson]

So epoxy isnt fuel proof? is there anything the average guy can use without setting up a paint shop with a booth to paint one boat? lol

Before i had access to automotive paints and spray equipment, i built and finished boats all the time with hobby brand adhesives and paints and they worked decent and the boats and thier finishes lasted a long time...im the average guy! Now...what percentage nitro are you going to use? I used to use Pactra Formula-U rattlecan polyurethane color and clear, i think you can get it at Tower Hobbies and it handled 40% nitro just fine at the time...most Epoxies if properly mixed and applied can resist nitro, but i dont care what kind of epoxy or paint you use, if you spill raw nitro on your boat youd better wipe it off pretty quick! I run 60% nitro in my stuff now and i use West Systems Epoxy/Dupont Imron paint/500s Clear and have accidently dripped nitro on the finish and watched it swell...it does level out after a few minutes and looks fine, but the nitro will effect it if you leave it on the finish long enough. Im sure that there are other products that are available that will work satisfactorily for the "average guy" and i do understand your frusteration. I built and finished boats for years using nothing but hobby shop stuff and it worked okay...you just may have to experiment a little! Ive also used Pacer finishing resin (epoxy) with good results..just brush or squeege it on, sand smooth ,then brush on another coat..if you dont like how it looks, then sand it smooth and do it again until your happy with the finish. You can get it at a hobby shop or Tower hobbies! You can get West Systems at Marine supply stores and it is great stuff, and its easy to use, but it aint cheap!