Epoxy Resin recommendations

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catalac08

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I have a rear bulkhead to repair which will consist of reglueing the GRP webs to the original bulkhead and then bonding another bulkhead to the original and over the GRP webs using suitable rebates where necessary. I have not worked out the quantities yet it will be a fair amount as the bulkhead is about 12ft x 4 ft and with suitable thickeners, bonding poder etc.
I have had good results in the past using West, SP and UK Epoxy. Apart from the better price I find UK easier to use as the hardener to resin ratio is 1:2 which makes the measuring easy. I used UK Epoxy to epoxy my hulls 11 years ago and this is still a hard as hell glassy finish.
Before I go ahead I just want to check whether there is a company out there that supplies quality epoxy resin at good prices that might be better than I have used previously,as this was some time ago and things move on!
 
OP doesn't say where he is. I get mine locally from Fyne Boats. In smaller quantities they supply it as Professional Epoxy Coatings. It is used 2:1 as you mentioned and I use it for all sorts. You can mix up tiny amounts at these ratios.It's about the same as West in pricing. I think I pay about £28 for 1 1/2 litres.
 
OP doesn't say where he is. I get mine locally from Fyne Boats. In smaller quantities they supply it as Professional Epoxy Coatings. It is used 2:1 as you mentioned and I use it for all sorts. You can mix up tiny amounts at these ratios.It's about the same as West in pricing. I think I pay about £28 for 1 1/2 litres.

I am just south of Manchester near the Airport-thanks for this reference, it looks to be just what I need and the prices are excellent (£82 for 6Kg) and much cheaper than West.SP and even Uk Epoxy. They also give good user information and H&S Advice for using epoxy resins.
 
I use either west or SP. For that amount of bonding though I would consider bulk buying either of my preferred two.
+1, better the devil you know than the devil you don't - dosing/mixing of West Epoxy is a dawdle with their metering pumps - correct ratio of resin to hardener every time.
 
I've been using Fyne Boats epoxy exclusivly for all my projects to date.I have used the other 'name' epoxies at work and have not achieved such good results(the Devil I know?).I agree that using FB metering pumps makes life a doddle. I am pleased to read that FB are expanding,they are nice,helpfull people selling a good product at a reasonable non rip off price.I will not be switching supplier for any future projects.The only downside to FB epoxy is that it takes a few hours to go off,allthough most of my jobs were done in a cold celler.(zero solvent=zero smell so great for indoors).I believe that they now do a version that 'kicks' a lot quicker for jobs that require that vertue.
Good luck with your bulkheads whatever product you settle on.
Cheers
No connection to FB apart from being a satisfied customer.
 
For this type of project I would only use West System solvent free resin and Micro-Fibres.

Tip:
Place the bulkhead into the required position with small wedges to maintain the small air gap between hull and bulkhead.
Mix resin, hardener and and wet coat the area to be treated, then add the Micro-fibres to the rest of the mix and apply one side, leaving the wedges in place but not covering them.

Use a small round object to create a nice even gusset between the bulkhead and hull, I use a small jar, the type they put fish paste in.
Repeat on the other side when the first lot has cured, and fill areas left by the wedges on both sides.

This will leave you a nice curve to glass to and reduce and chances of air entrapment.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
I've been using Fyne Boats epoxy exclusivly for all my projects to date.I have used the other 'name' epoxies at work and have not achieved such good results(the Devil I know?).I agree that using FB metering pumps makes life a doddle. I am pleased to read that FB are expanding,they are nice,helpfull people selling a good product at a reasonable non rip off price.I will not be switching supplier for any future projects.The only downside to FB epoxy is that it takes a few hours to go off,allthough most of my jobs were done in a cold celler.(zero solvent=zero smell so great for indoors).I believe that they now do a version that 'kicks' a lot quicker for jobs that require that vertue.
Good luck with your bulkheads whatever product you settle on.
Cheers
No connection to FB apart from being a satisfied customer.

Thanks for the information-it suits me that the professional Epoxy resin is a little slower to go off than other products as it is likely to be hot in August on the S Coast and there is nothing worse than seeing several £ of resin gone off before you have had the time to complete a fiddly application or even worse the resin starting to cure when you are only half way through an application. As my extra bulkheads will be nipped up to the existing ones slow cure is not a problem as long as I make the mix thick enough to not drain from the joint.
Olesaltz-Yes I had planned to wet the two ply faces and then apply thickened epoxy to one face to make the bond.
 
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