Cheap epoxy for boatbuilding

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Jakest

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Hi,
Anybody on here know any cheap (cheaper than West or SP) epoxy that can be used for similar jobs (coating + filleting wood, some hand laminating with woven carbon or glass). I know that epoxy is now not just used for boatbuilding and people have tantalisingly spoken of 'non branded cheaper alternatives'. Google searches on 'cheap epoxy' and the likes don't seem to bring anything up.
I'm not building ocean going yachts here, just the odd modification. My first job for instance is a plug for an outboard well- so marine plywood filleted together then glassed over. I don't need many of the aspects of the big brands that make them expensive- (marine specific marketing, telephone assistance, dosing pumps, wide temperature range, availability at yacht swindlers). Perfectly happy to weigh the stuff out on kitchen scales, adhere to temperature instructions, buy a gallon at a time etc.

Alternatively, I have loads of West microfibres, filleting blend, low and high density fillers etc. from the days when I could afford the epoxy to go with it. Anybody used these filler media with cheap polyester resin? Does it work? Does it dissolve/ mix in properly?
Jake
 
Having used West, SP and a few others I now use Syntac EPAFD from reactive resins (google finds their website wher you can order).

IMO is is both better, easier to use and cheaper than West.

They can supply both small and large quantities as well as all the normal fillers etc.

No connection etc, hope this helps
 
Thanks George,
I've tried the reactive resins EPAFD epoxy. I noted that it stayed rubbery for about 48 hours and took about 4 days to reach full cure. (This was in summer) This makes it good in some ways (for filling or filleting you can go back the next day and work it into the shape you want like plasticine). But it's a pain if you want to sand quickly and get a coating on it and get onto the next stage. It's also not a great deal cheaper than West if I recall correctly.
What I was hoping for with my post was somebody would let me know of an epoxy that is marketed to the building trade or similar so doesn't have the 'double the price for yachties' nonsense markup attached to it. I've seen people selling cheap unbranded epoxy as well as polyester at boat jumbles. Anybody tried that or know the contact details of a supplier?
Jake
 
gnatsis: I've had excellent service from Fibermax, too, but suspect the OP might be a bit far from them.

Jakest: at least some of the fillers can be used with polyester resin. Microfibres, in particular, work well for filletting and filling. Not sure about the finer fillers: some are hard enough to mix into epoxy, let alone more viscous polyester.

West is brilliant at two things: distribution/marketing and as an accesible (fairly) comprehensive system. Convenient. Unfortunately its wickedly dear and more prone than any other to amine blush in cool, damp climates (so not an issue in the UK, then...;))
 
Jakest said:
Thanks George,
I've tried the reactive resins EPAFD epoxy. I noted that it stayed rubbery for about 48 hours and took about 4 days to reach full cure. (This was in summer) This makes it good in some ways (for filling or filleting you can go back the next day and work it into the shape you want like plasticine). But it's a pain if you want to sand quickly and get a coating on it and get onto the next stage. It's also not a great deal cheaper than West if I recall correctly.
What I was hoping for with my post was somebody would let me know of an epoxy that is marketed to the building trade or similar so doesn't have the 'double the price for yachties' nonsense markup attached to it. I've seen people selling cheap unbranded epoxy as well as polyester at boat jumbles. Anybody tried that or know the contact details of a supplier?
Jake
Click to expand...

Hi Jake, only just seen your responce so sorry for tardy reply.

I can only assume that you must have used the slow hardner, there is also a fast and rapid hardners (which I have used) that have goven good results with no amine blush at all.

I have experienced the same issue as you when using PEC epoxy and they don't do a faster hardner so I gave up with PEC.

MAS is also good I believe but I have no experience.
 
Jakest said:
Hi,
Anybody on here know any cheap (cheaper than West or SP) epoxy that can be used for similar jobs (coating + filleting wood, some hand laminating with woven carbon or glass). I know that epoxy is now not just used for boatbuilding and people have tantalisingly spoken of 'non branded cheaper alternatives'. Google searches on 'cheap epoxy' and the likes don't seem to bring anything up.
I'm not building ocean going yachts here, just the odd modification. My first job for instance is a plug for an outboard well- so marine plywood filleted together then glassed over. I don't need many of the aspects of the big brands that make them expensive- (marine specific marketing, telephone assistance, dosing pumps, wide temperature range, availability at yacht swindlers). Perfectly happy to weigh the stuff out on kitchen scales, adhere to temperature instructions, buy a gallon at a time etc.

Alternatively, I have loads of West microfibres, filleting blend, low and high density fillers etc. from the days when I could afford the epoxy to go with it. Anybody used these filler media with cheap polyester resin? Does it work? Does it dissolve/ mix in properly?
Jake
Click to expand...

This company: http://www.mbfg.co.uk/epoxy-resins.html?gclid=CJSq0Kn-7LMCFe7MtAod-hMAaw supplies SP, at better prices than others I have found, have all the bits you need, I use cloth 300gm, beware of polyesters they are not as strong as epoxy if that is what you want.

There is a resident expert here 'oldsaltz who will give you great advice.
 
Last edited:
+1 for EasyComposites EL2.

Just finished 5kg (or whatever size, thereabouts) I bought to test a few months ago. It wetted out very nicely - appears slightly lower viscosity than West at all temps. Cures quite a bit slower (w. fast hardener), which also means it feels safer to mix in larger batches. Seems to be compatible with others’ fillers/powders. 100:30 ratio by weight becomes intuitive in no time.

I know it’s purely psychological, but I still favour West’s for real ‘structural’ stuff. Dunno why - but if it isn’t trying to set fire to the mixing cup after 5 mins it just doesn’t feel ‘right’ ?
 
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