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DaveMasland
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 8th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 13 |
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Posted: Fri Jun 23rd, 2006 04:00 am |
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Forgive me if this seems like a stupid question... but I just want to make sure I am doing this right the first time... lumber is expensive. I have never worked with Epoxy before. Tonight, according to the plans, I went shopping for Fiberglass Cloth and Epoxy Resin. After striking out at 2-3 stores, I found the fiberglass cloth at Home Depot, but was unable to find Epoxy resin. The stuff the guy sold me is "Fiberglass Resin" instead, and he said it is basically the same thing.
Is this true? Or, should I be shopping around some more for true Epoxy? Have any of you worked with Fiberglass Resin? Is it really the same thing as Epoxy Resin? Or, is it the wrong stuff to use to build the Nutmeg?
I am going to wait to open it up until I get a reply... that way I can return it.
One last question... can any of you tell me where I can find "Epoxy Resin" if this stuff is the wrong stuff to use? The local (upstate NY) Lowes and Home Depot do not seem to carry it.
I look forward to your replies. Thanks.
Dave Masland
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Thom V
Administrator
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Posted: Fri Jun 23rd, 2006 06:05 pm |
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Hi Dave,
Not sure what your fiberglass resin might be... If it's polyester based it's not epoxy.
Epoxy is ‘the’ technological innovation that has re-vitalized amateur wooden boat building over the past 20 years. Epoxy’s attributes are many: Waterproofs when applied to a wooden surface, fills gaps providing adhesion between boat building panels, and when used with fiberglass cloth, say over plywood, a very strong sandwich structure is obtained, etc.
The latest trend in Epoxy Formulations is the absence of ‘blush’. This is a waxy grayish substance that floats to the top after the epoxy cures and must be washed off or sanded off before adding another coat. Many of the leading epoxy companies now have a ‘blushless’ formulations eliminating this step in the build-out process.
There are many manufactures of Epoxy Products, here are a few: Raka, Inc., West System, MAS Epoxy, System Three Epoxy. Jamestown Distributors (east coast) and Fisheries Supply Co. (northwest) have a large mail order departments and many of the more popular epoxy brands can be obtained from them (and others like West Marine).
Some observations on using epoxy:
Epoxy can be hazardous to your health, some builders have a toxic reaction (some even have developed a toxin reaction from use over time…) always use hand protection and safety glasses when working with epoxy.
Mixing the 2 parts, epoxy and resin, really well before use gets better results.
Mixing epoxy up by volume or weight (the pumps are good but not as accurate) will get better results.
Epoxy has a better cure when the surfaces (especially wood) are warm to ‘hot’ (boatbuilder Robb White heats his shed to a high temperature before applying epoxy to his latest wood project).
Epoxy can be enhanced to effect certain tasks: Adding graphite powder 10% to volume and applying the mix (peanut butter consistency with a cabinet scraper) as a last coat to a boat bottom gains abrasion resistance. Adding wood flour (fine sawdust) to epoxy helps strength and fills gaps better. Adding silica powder to epoxy can make a strong tough set. Micro balloons and mini-glass ball can be added for certain fairing applications. See your favorite epoxy manufacture for more.
Hope this helps, Thom V
Last edited on Sat Jun 24th, 2006 04:22 pm by Thom V |
DaveMasland
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 8th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 13 |
| Mana: | |
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Posted: Sat Jun 24th, 2006 03:49 am |
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Thanks Tom. I appreciate the advice. I have checked out the websites you recommended, and have ordered epoxy resin. I will return the other stuff tomorrow.
Another quick question for you and others. I have seen other websites about small boat building where folks use epoxy to either: 1. Seal ALL seams and joints; and/or 2. Spread a layer of epoxy over the entire underside of the vessel.
I see you do not recommend these practices. It looks like you feel it's just not necessary... and that good glue along the chine, and good paint on the hull is all that is needed. What do you see as the pros and cons of using epoxy more liberally?
Thanks for all your input.
Dave Masland
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Thom V
Administrator
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Posted: Sat Jun 24th, 2006 05:09 pm |
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Hi Dave,
Well... It's not that the additional full bottom coat of epoxy is not recomened, it's that Dave Carnell designed NUTMEG to be easy AND economical to put together -- "The $200 Sailboat". If NUTMEG were to swing on a mooring, or if you used more expensive plywood to build then one might consider epoxy coating the outside bottom to the boot top. If one were to add this expense and time then I would suggest taking it one step further and after a coat or two of epoxy, one could mix powdered graphite (10% to epoxy volume) to the last epoxy coat to gain a slick abrasion resistant coating that would stand up to beaching the boat.
One could use other tough coatings to cover the boat bottom... Check out Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc. I think they have a product called "Aluthane"... This is single part aluminum powder that one adds to... not sure to what here, and it is rolled onto the bottom. This stuff is tough and is supposed to be an absoulute moisture barrier for wood or metal.
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