Easy question, looking for the cut-to-the-chase answers so I can order tomorrow. My clark foam blanks are shaped, my glass is ordered, now I am only lacking one thing: Resin.
So, the big question is this: poly or epoxy?
I’ve been reading a lot about Resin Research epoxy, and it sounds like I can pull it off, but what are the trade-offs?
My big concern with epoxy: Doing my resin swirls as well as I did on my other boards. My big concern with poly: A lot more weight for the same strength.
Should I stick with what I have already done well and do poly again, or should I go for the super-indestructo epoxy shell and risk shooting myself in the foot with a big unknown?
RR Epoxy works great, dosen’t smell, cures gin clear, and you can use a bit less. Jim Phillips called it idiot proof - which I guess I proved in using it on a few boards successfully!
Unless you are very in tune with your boards, and a good glasser, the weight savings will not be an issue. If you’ll notice the ounces less, good on you.
Poly - the easiest for me was Solarez (UV cured resin). I’d say this is just about idiot proof also. If you have a space to work in totally cut off from natural light, you can take your time and get it all just how you want it before exposing it and setting off the resin cure. very easy.
There was a recent post here about doing cut laps and colors in epoxy. I think Tom Stern has been doing some boards that way.
Maybe more questions are needed for you to decide?
Just my opinion, but unless you’re doing some kind of retro work or poly was requested by the customer, why not not go with epoxy. I’ve never did a swirl with Greg’s stuff but he says it is very similar to working with poly in that aspect.
You just called the stuff [=1]super-indestructo… [ 2]Is there really a decision after saying that? [/][/]
Well, the reason I have some concern about doing the swirls with epoxy is that the lam resin amounts (as described by greg) are much less than I used to do my swirls before. I guess I am worried that the epoxy, being a smaller amount, will need much more spreading out and squeegeeing, and will lose definition in the swirls as a result.
The boards aren’t for customers, they’re for my little sister and myself. One will be her first surfboard, so I want it to be tough, but she has specifically requested a resin swirl like I did on my fish… And I know I can pull it off with poly, but I’ve never screwed around with epoxy… Especially considering greg loehr calls for 12 oz epoxy to lam a bottom, and I used like 26 oz of poly to make sure I got coverage on the bottom of this fish.
The other board I’m making for myself is to be my first bonzer, and I’m planning on epoxy to make it last. It will be clear with volan, so no worries about tint, just worried about actually applying the lams and how it will compare to poly laminations.
On the other hand, I did 6/6+6 on my #001 board, and it doesn’t have a single ding to show after probably a dozen sessions. And the egg with 6/6+6+6 deckpatch? Fagettabowdit, it is golden, but a bit heavy…
Go epoxy, particularly if you’ve used it once or twice before. For swirls, splashes and opaques it works great. You’ve got tons of time to work with it, no racing the MEK clock or the limitaions of UV vs. opaque colors. I don’t use Evercoat or the cheap 1 oz. boat store pigments, call up Fiberglass Hawaii in Santa Cruz or others in Florida for quality products. Good luck!
