Ok I tried to repair a ding in an old surftech type board I have. It is an old beater I have around for visitors and so forth so I just decided to fix it myself. Anyway tried to fill in a hd from a broken out FCS fin plug with fiberglass resin and I am sure you all know the rest of the story. So it basically ate away all of the foam and now I have a huge hole to fill. So what can I use to fill in the hole and then what can I use to go over it to patch the top? Not too worries about appearance I just want to close it up. The hole is about half dollar size bit the part that was desolved is large baseball size to the deck and rail…I know I am a genius but I lime to learn the hard way I guess. Thanks
Krummy,
You used Polyester resin on eps. That's a no no. You obviously know that now. Go to the store, and get epoxy resin. Get some q cell as well. Fill the hole with a mixture of q cell and epoxy, it will be of yogurt consistency. sand, then lam over the hole, then hotcoat. once it cures, drill, and install the Plug as usual with glass powder, and resin.
Once I fill and sand it off can I leave it like that? I am not replacing the side bit I don’t want to use them moving forward. Any chance I can repair with product i can find at Home Depot my beach house is pretty isolated I would have to order supplies and would like to just bang it out tomorrow. Remember for this tank aesthetics mean nothing just want to seal it off. Thanks
Try and find a car body filler that is epoxy based, some have fiber in them as well that will stop it cracking - wont be pretty but sounds like it would do the job you are after.
Otherwise get some 5 min epoxy from home depot and mix in talc powder to make a filler, work quick and maybe do a few mixes so it wont catch you out going off too quick. once the hole is filled sand flush and smear some more epoxy (and cloth if you can get it) on top to seal it up.
Only do these kind of repairs if you really dont care how it looks, or cant get the proper repair products!
that seems like a pretty large space to fill with epoxy (filler).
I may be reading poorly though…
another option would be some structural foam…sanded down and then glassed over. I’ve done this before for filling large, oddly shaped spaces.
Using epoxy resin of any kind with a filler will add a heavy dead spot in the board if the hole is as large as you say. I would try one of the new latex based expanding foam sealants.Since it is latex based, it should be compatible with eps foam.
Get a can and test a small amount on exposed foam. A VERY small amount. If the foam doesn’t melt, then use it. I suggest pre-taping a barrier you can cover the hole with before the foam sets up. The latex type does not expand a lot so you won’t have to deal with excess. Maybe let the foam exceed the exterior glass layer. Then, cut off the extra and glass over with epoxy resin.
This stuff should be easy to find at Loew’s, Home Depot, etc.
Yeah i guess it depends how much foam the PE ate away. if its alot, then fill with foam. if its not much then use filler cause it'll be easier.
Sammy, will latex based shrink in cold water and cause problems? I don't do much with eps/epoxy construction so I wouldn't know. Just curious
Yeah I was thinking that but didn’t know about how it would react with the EPS. Ok I will try that out you and let you know how it works out.
No, no, no - you guys have got it all wrong.
The proper ''swaylock's way'' to fix this is to replace the whole core. Start by taking detailed measurements of the entire board, mapping rocker, foil, rail cross-sections, etc. Next you carefully disassemble the board. A chainsaw is the best tool for this. Get some EPS from Home Depot. Shape new core, but first throw away all the detailed measurements because you're not going to come close to them anyway. Build yourself an industrial press in your garage and use it to replace skins onto new core. Install FCS as usual, this time with low-exotherm epoxy made from recycled grape seeds.
Hope the OP has a sense of humor.....
What can I use to color the resin white? Do you just use paint? I
I got some white rustoleum in a can thought it may work since it is oil based. Project Frankenstien continues.
Krummy, to get resin white use white pigment. don't use paint, it'll separate and wont work. If you do choose to do filler, then if mixed well, and if enough is added, q cell will turn it white
You can buy epoxy spray paint at just about any hardware store. Krylon, or a similar brand.
I’ve used it to disguise old beaters many times. Works just fine