Sealing Wood with Epoxy

[purplerobbie]

I'm still working on the decks of my boat but i'm getting there.
I need to seal the margin board to the fiberglass of the hull.

I have bought this stuff called Eposeal which is a very thin (water like) epoxy.
My plan was to clean all the edges out. Then sand up the margin board and then put a couple of coats of this eposeal on the margin board and in the join.
Then fill the join with sikaflex.
Then go over the top with a few coats of colean.

My reason for using the eposeal is it will get in all the places the water could and seal them up.
Then if i seal over the seam between the hull and deck with the sikaflex this will hopefully keep the water out of it.
Then if i cover the lot with colean it should last a good while.

The problem i now have is i have just been told that there is no point in putting epoxy on wood as it only last a couple of years then it breaks down?
Is there any truth in this?

Does anyone have any better thoughts?

Rob

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Robert,

You have told a half truth. Epoxy will breakdown under UV light over a period, however, a simple coat of paint, varnish or other will screen out the UV and it will last many many years.

When coating timber or filling small gaps you can thin epoxy resin by adding 30% by volume or weight using bog standard Methylated Spirits to the freshly mixed resin and hardener. This will improve the penetration into the timber and joints you are trying to seal.

You can apply thinned resin wet on wet to maximise penetration, end grain sucks up resin at 3 to 4 times the surface rate so apply extra in this area.

When the timber stops soaking up the thinned resin, you can apply more without the Metho to build up a protective layer, 3 coats applied wet on tacky will avoid sanding between coats.

Let the cure for at least 24 hours and sand with a 200 grit, just enough to take most of the very high gloss off and apply an epoxy primer before painting.

Adding Micro-Fibres to an epoxy resin will produce a very very strong timber glue, just remember to protect it from UV light.

I hope this helps.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[pcatterall]

Comprehensive as ever!! One can only add. DONT SNIFFO THE METHS!!

 

[LittleShip]

[ QUOTE ]
Comprehensive as ever!! One can only add. DONT SNIFFO THE METHS!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Spoilsport! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Tom

 

[Gordonmc]

Just one thought, coelan might not work too well on top of epoxy or sika.
Coelan's instructions are pretty explicit about prepping: bare wood then coelan primer. It might be worth reading up before taking out a second mortgage for a tin of coelan.

 

[aitchw]

I have used Eposeal extensively and it is both very convenient and effective. As stated, you can thin standard epoxy yourself with the same effect but you already have the Eposeal. You may be surprised how much is sucked in especially on any end grain but persevere and you will get to point where it sits up on the surface.

 

[purplerobbie]

i already have 3ltrs of coelan and 5ltrs of eposeal and 12 tubes of sikaflex.
All i need now is some good weather!

I was going to put the coelan over the top as it's uv stable. I have a friend who has put it over the top of varnish with no ill affects.
I'll do a little test area and if it looks like it might be a problem i'll varnish over the top of the eposeal.
It's going to end up an inch thick this!
Rob

Rob