epoxy-what am i doing wrong

Slinky Spring

Member
Joined
20 Jun 2003
Messages
586
Location
merseyside
Whenever I have used west epoxy to coat something it always ends up with a rough surface. It looks like the epoxy gathers a bit like oil on water. What am I doing Wrong?
 

gianenrico

Member
Joined
12 Dec 2003
Messages
510
Location
Northern Tyrrenian sea
Possibly:
1) surface not clean enough (besides thorougly removing all old paint, dust the surface with one of those microfibre mops: they do wonders!);
2) wrong mixing of the two components;
3) apllication with an "orange peel" roll;
4) application of second layer before the first one has thorougly dried;
5) too much "pulling" of the epoxy while appling it or too long strokes in applying it.

Cheers
 

ecb

New member
Joined
14 Jul 2004
Messages
15
Location
Cornwall
You could use peel ply? A woven cloth that the excess epoxy seeps through, leaving a finish as smooth as a babies bottom.
 

Birdseye

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Joined
9 Mar 2003
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28,142
Location
s e wales
Epoxy does fisheye very easily and it also leaves pinholes unless you are very careful. One problem I found was silicone - removing the rubber sealant from the windows left a dust of silicone all over and it took ages to get rid. And other materials can carry this - brushes for example, or rags.
 

bruce

New member
Joined
26 May 2004
Messages
513
Location
florida USA
go to the west system web site, lots of information that is used for their system and any other epoxy ...
 

huldah

Member
Joined
31 May 2004
Messages
311
Location
Bath UK
Epoxy should be stored in the warm to prevent crystals forming. Check the bottom of the bottle, and warm to disolve.

Any crystals in the epoxy mixture will leak and form fish eye depressions. These areas will be 'waterproof' to any additional coats. Small crystals can also cause problems. Probably the best way to treat fish eye is to break an all hard hacksaw blade and grind into a curve to match the fish eye. Lean the blade towards you and pull while pressing down. It will rapidly remove the epoxy. Sharpen about every 10 minites. It's action is similar to a cabinet makers scraper, far faster than wet & dry.

The saw blade is also excellent for finishing epoxy fillets. Best used before the epoxy has reached full set.

Philip
 

oldsaltoz

New member
Joined
4 Jul 2001
Messages
6,005
Location
Australia, East coast.
G'day Ian,

I would bet my last penny your problem is contamination, sounds very much like Silicon to me, try using a silicon remover first and stop polishing the boat with silicon type polish, you will find the same reaction with most paints.

Andavagooweekend........
 
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