I like epoxy a lot but I am so glad I went back to poliester!!!
Why is that Mako?
I guess I don’t think of epoxy resin as a step forward. I just think of it as another type of resin. I use both. I like epoxy because it seems to wet out easier, doesnt stink(wife doesn’t know I have another board going up there), and I don’t worry about fire if I decide to smoke a cheep cigar in the Rat Turd Lab… But, it’s more fickle in terms of temperature, you get more bubbles, and it gets hotter than Hell when pooling. Not to mention allergy concerns. My epoxy boards seem a bit lighter using the same fiberglass. And, this need to keep everything super clean is fucked up for a guy like me. I shape in the same small squalid room in which I glass. The rats are no joke. I can say rat piss has no effect on laminating with epoxy. The turds I just flick off. I don’t want to worry about walking in there and grabbing a board with gloves and shit, anyway. The weather is getting cold and wet. Time to go back to the UV polyester. It’s easy-smeezy. Good stuff for a garage guy. Mike
You’re right Rooster.
Another type of resin…
Polyester smell kills it for me. Also, my epoxy boards are more durable than any PE board I’ve owned.
Stingray Here......
I work odd hours...It's past midnight and I'm doing a killer epoxy gloss job on a 7'5" egg....There's a storm brewing and the wind is blowing in San Diego tonight. My work shop is 72 degrees F with no wind or other air movement. The link ChrisP posted is how I glass surfboards.....That's how I do it...I'm backyard and I'm good...Damm good! I've got a few tricks....You want a great RR epoxy glass job....I can help you...this thread is full of bad information.....My camera broke...I got a new camera but I'm still learning how to work it.....How about an epoxy surfboard with a second hot coat that doesn't need to be buffed???????? It's all there......no Acetone...no solvent
Stingray
What ever is around the house. cooking oil, lotion, axle greezeeee, or just good ol spit.
Dave,
If you are applying a direct hotcoat to the lam there shouldn’t be a need to wipe unless you’ve contaminated the lamination.
Those pictures look like you had an oil or a silicone of some type on your bare hand and touched the board. Whatever it was if you wiped the board with acetone it should have taken it off.
Fish eyes can really be a nightmare. I’d start with something you had on your hands then work backwards.
I’ve had problems like yours with old additive f. If it is as old as your resin I would get some new f and dispose of your old stuff. Don’t try and freshen it up by mixing the new with the old. There might be something in the container that shouldn’t be there.
I have to say I do use acetone on the epoxy but only on the areas that were previously hotcoated that I was too lazy to sand. For me sanding the hotcoat and reapplying resin is best, as it sticks better, but sometimes I’ll cheat especially on the rail.
Acetone or denatured alcohol have to be clean. Easy to get stuff in the can and lastley you have to be 100% sure that your rag is clean.
You are going to need to go through your steps and find the contamination. It usually doesn’t go away and only gets worse.
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I like epoxy a lot but I am so glad I went back to poliester!!!
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Why is that Mako?
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The things I like about epoxy are its lack of odor and its resistance to shattering.
What I don't like is that epoxy takes longer, requires much more care in the process, there is much more risk of problems, the stuff is miserable to sand, added cost, the boards don't stay looking bright white for very long.
I switched this summer to using sun cure poliester and I could not be happier. I can shape a board one day and glass it start to finish the next and get a better finished product.
I've gotten very good results on every single epoxy board I've built but I just am much happier working with and with the results I get using poliester.
Right on Mako, … All valid points.
Bottom line tho, you’re stoked on PE. That’s what matters.
Your boards look excellent by the way. The step-tail that you did recently looked really clean!
I was glad when GL checked in. I think it's obvious you should heed his advice. Following the manufacturers directions seems to be a bit much for some, though.... Don't be one of those.
These threads will always turn into poly vs epoxy debates. which is another subject.
GL does have good advice but WATER is a solvent and by adding soap to water makes it work even better as a solvent. Soap and water works wonderfully prior to your final coat of epoxy.
My other pet peev about the PE vs epoxy debate is the term “HOT COAT”. Been using epoxy for 27 yrs making water toys and I have never hot coated any epoxy glass job.
Lots of terms are loosely used her that only muddies the water and adds to the confusion.
20 years from now when PE resin is illegal everything will get better. Especially for your neighbors within a 4 block radius of those that use PE resin at home.
Works wonderfully to do what?
Gets rid of any oil from hands and dust from sanding. After I wash it down and let dry I go over the board with a tack cloth to get rid of any dust that may be left. Its all geared for getting as smooth a finish as possible so it reduces sanding. Not a process I’d ever want to do in a production environment but it works for me. Learned it from working with West systems on boats.