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Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
Robert,
You won't have any trouble with the epoxy resin. I've used both over the years, and West System makes a very good product.
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I'm with you 100%' but can also see no differeance between the west system, and the us composites epoxy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
I bought the mixing plungers with my order. The epoxy has it's own plunger/dispenser, and so does the hardener.
Highly recommended/ totally worth the$, if you are doing much work at all, otherwise use a scale.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
One pump from each container into a Glad-Wrap plastic cup, mix up for a minute, and you are set to go. I purposely mix bubbles into the mixing operation, and then smooth out to remove them when I wet out the cloth.
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Just fyi, i've been using all sorts of off brand plastic cups with Epoxy and never had an issue, just don't sweat it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
Make sure to wear a protective glove when handling, so as to make clean up much easier. Although the epoxy is easier to clean up.
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If you don't have disposable gloves, dont start. I've used vinyl (last about 20 mins with epoxy exposure), nitrile (as far as I know last forevor), latex works good, but tears easily, and nitrile/ latex which are my personal favorite.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
Over the years, I've had way more trouble mixing polyester, because I can easily lose count of how many drops of hardener I put in when interrupted for some reason. To me it's much more tedious. Some of my mixes have turned out, well, let's just say, not too good!! Either it goes too quickly or takes days to set up properly.
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Been there many, many times and pounded my head everytime.
few recommendations
1) work polyester in warm weather >50F !!!!biggest one for me!!!
2) measure twice, pour once. a decent scale is killer for polyester.
3) get an external mix gun, I like mine, but you have to pay close attention to resin output as well as MEKP output, otherwise you are screwed.
4) too much is every bit as bad as too little!
5) use epoxy
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
The epoxy is a little thinner, and but wets out the cloth fine, and really is very easy to work with. Plus like you said, the smell is much better with epoxy.
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Epoxy wets out glass like a dream, if thin is an issue use a filler, my 2 favorites are 3m glass bubbles, and milled fibers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler
I have noticed on sharp corners, the epoxy does not hold the cloth tightly around the bend like polyester does, or even Elmers Wood Glue for that matter, and that's where vacuum bagging comes in. But if I'm going to vacuum bag, I try to keep the vacuum down to just enough to hold the material tight. Too much vacuum can distort the shape of the part, especially if it's relatively weak foam. Then a heat lamp comes out to accelerate the setup time.
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If you have something with tight bends that you don't want/ cant bag put down a thin coat of epoxy, let it tac up, then use the tackiness of the epoxy to hold your glass/ fiber in place.
I don't mean to pick apart your post at all, I just saw it as a way to share some of what I learned in the last few months.