epoxy material ?

[FishStretcher]

Originally Posted by abl1111

I will be doing some winter epoxy work and have limited experience with epoxy ( I've always used polyester resin ) and any epoxy I've used has been the West System - although never used with fiberglass - always used thickened, to repair a crack etc.

Is there a better, less expensive epoxy and where can I purchase it ? Or, should I stick with West ? I will probably not need more than a few quarts to a gallon.

Thx

The epoxy you might be looking for is called vinylester. Or more properly, epoxy vinylester . It works like poly and wets out mat. And has a nice low viscosity. And has mechanical properties better than West system epoxy.

Merton's sells it. Data sheet is attached.

[martin]

I've used aero marine epoxy from cali good stuff and inexpensive. Used it for a teak sole and 3/4" covering boards held up very well especially when gluing oily teak...

[bigeasy1]

Originally Posted by thehermit

US Composites sells "epoxy mat".....NO Binder

Hermit,I almost forgot about that, thanks.
Yes,they do.I just don't care for it.It's thick and puffy like a blanket.I like a stitch-mat like 1708 as I find it to be much easier to use when dealing with bends and curves when wetting it out,it just drapes and conforms so nice,and is very user friendly.
It is also stronger.in structural applications.than mat.
To each his own though,everyone has their favorites,done properly,they all do a very good job.

[thehermit]

Originally Posted by bigeasy1

Hermit,I almost forgot about that, thanks.
I like a stitch-mat like 1708 as I find it to be much easier to use when dealing with bends and curves when wetting it out,it just drapes and conforms so nice,and is very user friendly

Me too

FYI

Vinyl ester is not epoxy. Poly type product right?!

[shine]

We sell a lot of epoxies (mostly our house brand), and also biax with mat that is stitched. I rebuilt my seacraft with these materials. Our prices are very competitive.

our Marinepoxy....

http://boatbuildercentral.com/products.php?cat=41

[abl1111]

Thx again. A quick question - do you think I need to use core material ( balsa ) and then 1708 or will the 1708 give enough rigidity under the gunnels ?