Hello everyone ,
I use epoxy with a slow hardener to build my boards, and today i tried to leave the epoxy as long as possible in the pot before hotcoating.
The epoxy had thickend considerably when i poured it on the board.
I used the squegee to spread the resin an brushed it afterwards.
Is it a good idea to do it like this or will it weaken the resin cause i am breaking already cured parts of the resin?
Thanks in advance
jasper,
If you want a heavy lumpy board then this is a fantastic idea. If you want it to be somethig else, then no. There is no benefit to this on a flat surface like a surfboard… there might be an argument if it was a vertical surface. If you want to add depth of color and weight,then add a layer of 4oz glass and sand that flat.
A hotcoat is only supposed to fill the weave of the glass, it fill the pinholes. Anything else is adding unnecessary weight. Epoxy or resin is just the glue that holds the fiberglass together & seals the weave.
Plus epoxy when given the chance to therm in the bucket will go from a lttle war, to smoking hot as fast as resin… You are messing with fire doing this.
Why not just use a fast mix, like RR QuikKick? Mix it, apply it. Seems like you’re working against yourself to use a slow hardener, then let it sit and start to gel. What is the purpose?
I defer to Resinhead’s knowledge regarding epoxy…
why not use fast for the whole build?
Also, the microwave can help with getting the resin to flow.
Resinhead, came out exactly like you said -bad idea. I wont do that again. Thank you for the answer!
Huck, there is not really a good explanation for choosing the slow hardener, but when i started building boards i was looking
to keep costs low , not the best choice as it came out, but now i want to use what i got. I working on my third board now, and being the kind of
person that is only learning by doing the same mistakes twice ( or,sadly over and over) … its ok , i am not just messing around with the hotcoat.
Next step is using a resin system like RR.
Chrisp, what do you do with the microwave? Heating the unmixed resin?
Best whishes
J
Having never glassed with epoxy, I must ask. Is there an accelerator additive that can be used with slow cure to speed it up?
My experience with epoxy is limited to building custom doors and windows. We use it as the glue for mahogany sashes and frames.
Our method is to spread it on a scrap piece of plywood after mixing to slow the kick by reducing the relative mass of the batch.
My thought are that if the board is being made by a hobbyist, nd not production for sale, then whats the hurry…slow, fast , medium kick its all the same. My Dad says "what’s time to a hog?. I mean whats the difference I an additional day or two in a build… You are just going to hurry up and get it done…then the waves are going to go flat. So take your time on each step of the process, get the best materials, and do the best job you can do. Remember you have to carry that chunk of foam and glass around the beach for a long time. And if you put your logo on it, and sell it…then it’s even worse, some one else will be hauling it around on the beach.
Make good boards.
Just make sure you get all the resin out of the pot or it won’t work,and a good cough always helps
Just kidding! I just thought the same thing on my last build ,I bought the slow because I’m a rookie and thought it would be more forgiving. I wanted to speed up the dry / gell time and thought if I leave it in the container for an extra 5 minutes with a few more mixes it would warm up more and “activate” more and dry faster. I don’t think it helped and was just a wild theory .it is good for the fin boxes! No more slow for me,just the regs.
Brush it on, tip it out, walk away…go get beverage, maybe 2 or 3, come back in 45…pull tape. Sit back admire your handy work, call you neighbor to see what a stud you are at laying down epoxy. Next day do side 2. Then let it sit for a few days…then go sand it all off.
Love the process.
Epoxy gets warm because the cross linking is an exotherm (generating heat) reaction. If it’s getting hot in the pot, then that’s a sign that the cross linking reaction is progressing. You’re not going to undo the reaction or break links that have already formed, regardless what you do.
Reminds me of the day at a hut in J-bay in '79 or so, trying to get a poly resin ding repair to go off in time for the afternoon surf. Camping stove to apply a little heat on that freezing day. Pretty much instant burning surfboard. Another bad idea.
If you use the search function at the upper right hand side of the page…you will find all your answers…
…this thread might help…http://www.swaylocks.com/forums/first-epoxy-glass-job-s\
Stingray.