Glue/filler for a tiller

[onenyala]

I am rebuilding a three part laminated tiller which I made a couple of years ago but which started to spring apart due to water penetrating between the laminates. Previously I used a water soluble powder type glue. I have been able to separate the three parts and have cleaned them up but the surfaces are not fair and have small indents.
I am looking for some sort of epoxy glue which will also act as a filler. I am tempted to use Evostick waterproof wood glue but am not sure whether there would be enough body to fill the indentations after it has cured.
Anyone have any suggestions

 

[Strathglass]

Forget about the Evostick.
Use epoxy with a microfibres and silica filler then make sure that it is well varnished to prevent UV damage.

Iain

 

[onenyala]

Is this an off the shelf job or do you have to mix up a two part epoxy and then add the microfibre and filler and mix that up with it?
It will have to be sufficiently'runny' to be able to be squeezed out as the cramps were tightened up.

 

[Strathglass]

It is two part stuff, either West, Epiphans or SP systems.
Use a small pack, Clean the tiller up, mix the two parts together, paint all the parts you wish to join/fill with this neat epoxy. Mix the rest of the epoxy together with microfibres and silica until you get a paste like a thick porridge. Stuff this in the gaps and fill the holes with it. Clamp the assembly together and the excess epoxy will squeeze out. Clean of any excess epoxy and leave to set.
Doing it this way you will still have some cleaning up once it is set but you will get a secure tiller.

If you send me a MP with your Email address I will send you some photos of a laminated tiller I have nearly finished.

Iain

 

[onenyala]

Thanks for the the info. The filling that needs to be done is really quite shallow. probably no more than 1 - 2 mm which are where the grain of the wood pulled out as I was splitting the laminates apart. I really only need to fill them to avoid voids between the sections. I think that the epoxy alone will probably suffice.
This tiller willl not be a work of art! it is just a straight taper.

 

[Strathglass]

If it is just as you say 1 - 2mm deep I would still use some microfibres and not any silica. Epoxy on its own is not really gap filling and tends to be very brittle when set. This makes it a pain to plane and sand smooth. A way to get the epoxy in the splits before clamping it together is to use a small disposible syringe.
I have plenty fillers here as I used to buy it in bulk. It would be no hassle to put some in an envelope and send it to you.

Always wear gloves when using epoxy resins especially the hardener.

Iain

 

[Richard_Blake]

Agree with Iain on everything. If gaps extend to edges, I would just suggest adding a little wood powder to the mix to give a colour match. Not too much though, as wood powder gets darker when the epoxy dries. Better than the nasty dull white lines which I got the first time I tried! Best source - if you have a sander with a dust collection bag......

Good luck - it's one of the most satisfying jobs when it comes out right!

Richard

LowTech

 

[onenyala]

Thanks for the offer of some filler which I would like to take up. I'm not sure whether it is advisable to put my address on the web. My e-mail address is : jamesstuart.jones@ntlworld.com
If you can let me know yours I will e-mail my postal address to you - its in the UK not a million miles from Watford!
Stuart