Stitch and glue epoxy choice.

Lon nan Gruagach

Lon nan Gruagach

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So many epoxies, so many choices.
For a 14 foot 6mm ply dinghy.
Due to a choice of supplier I seem to be faced with 2 (price driven) options: West System and Sicomin. Does anyone have any advice to help me choose, any horror stories or glowing recommendations? Or is there another manufacturer/supplier I should be aware of?

Thanks.
Dougal.
 
sailorman said:
the original stitch n glue was polyester resin.
epoxy doesnt like uv

i used these for epoxy,via ebay brilliant service & price. when i re ordered i went direct & a better price too

Merchant
MB Fibreglass
paypal@mbfg.co.uk
tel:+44 2890861992
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Aha, I did see them on eBay, but was put off by the often "does not post to Scottish islands", there is a work around for that though, and their Axson Epolam is certainly cheap.
 
Dougal Tolan said:
So many epoxies, so many choices.
For a 14 foot 6mm ply dinghy.
Due to a choice of supplier I seem to be faced with 2 (price driven) options: West System and Sicomin. Does anyone have any advice to help me choose, any horror stories or glowing recommendations? Or is there another manufacturer/supplier I should be aware of?

Thanks.
Dougal.
Click to expand...

I have built two dinghies, a Mirror and my tender, and a canoe using stich and glue. I have used polyester resin quite successfully for each. Epoxy is said to stick better but it costs considerably more.
 
i have used West, SP and Blue Gee, all successfully. First used West to build clinker ply dinghies in 1980 and the one I kept has sat on my drive for the last 15 years and the epoxy is still sound, although some of the WBP I use is looking a bit sad. I find Blue Gee a bit more tolerant on mix ratios and have used it for sheathing as well as bonding, but always painted over so can't comment on UV resistance. Does to appear to bloom as much as West can, but that is a subjective view.
 
i bought some digital scales on ebay. the type that can be hung on nail with a hook, then zero with a basket or similar containing the mixing pot, then weigh the 2 parts, scales were £3 delivered

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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-01Gx40K...781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51c126e57d
 
One of the advantages of polyester resin is that the mixing proportions do not have to be precise. They can even be varied a bit to slow the reaction time down a bit in warm coditions
 
I have been using Resoltech. The glue comes ready filled, so no mixing other than the resin and hardener. They also do a good waterbased coating resin which is non toxic and rolls on like milk, easy to get a smooth finish and 1:1 mix. There is a UK agent for it.
Bit of luck recently tho, I was gifted a 200lt drum of resin with assorted hardeners for different setting speeds, so set up for a while.
I use a kitchen scale (no smiley face..) that is good to a gram. Cost a bit more than £3
On my third boat now, a 17ft cat yawl for cruising, reworked from a Bolger design.
DW
 
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Glassplies in Southport does epoxy but you are looking at a delivery charge of about £20 to Highlands.However Ajg parcels from Inverness will probably do it fora lot less if Glassplies cooperate.
Àlternatively Google glassfibre supplies in Glasgow as there is a good stockist of both polyester and epoxy resins.
As for filler you can pay out for microballoons or source fine sawdust from a local floor sander polisher!
 
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