My advice when using Steve Frederick's "glass" tec

[asianflava]

Yes it's 206. I need all the working time I can get. It's 4:30AM and it's 80F outside, a lot cooler than the 98F it was earlier.

Is the 207 self-leveling?
I don't know if it is better to use the epoxy or the Minwax Spar Urethane?
Which one is easier to work with?

You have to remember, one composites class 10 years ago and this project is the extent of my practical experience with epoxy. I am more of a mechanic than a woodworker so I have never finished (stained, varnished, etc) any wood projects. Never used a router table before this project.

I am mainly concerned with the weatherproofing of the galley. I am going to use the Urethane on the interior.

[DestinDave]

If you don't want the expense of the West System pumps - or are using another brand of epoxy - buy and use clear graduated mixing cups. They come marked in ounces and or milliliters. Be sure to follow the proper ratios given for each type of epoxy and catalyst.
BTW - if anyone didn't know what I meant by "mixing it too hot" that means adding more catalyst in order to force a quicker cure time and yes it can get HOT! I've seen a metal can implode and collapse. That's HOT!

[Guy]

In order to prevent the epoxy from getting too hot you have to use a wider container. Regardless of the amount or type of hardener, the narrower the mixing container the hotter the epoxy gets in the container.

This info was on both the West site and the Raka site.

[An Ol Timer]

My first experience with epoxy was 30 years ago while working on the Varieze I used a homemade balance that had the proper ratio built in. That way no matter the amount of epoxy, if the balance was right, the hardner was right. Not my idea as it came with Burt Rutan's plans.

[rjhager]

Old Timer -- Got any photos of the plane?

[angib]

If a laminating novice reads this thread, I think they could be misled, so:

- When adding hardener to polyester or vinylester resin, you can alter the ratio to make the resin go off faster (more hardener) or slower (less hardener). If it is hotter, you use less hardener to get the same cure time.

- Epoxies do not tolerate anything other than the specified mix ratio - do not vary it. If the ambient temp is hotter, work faster!

Andrew

[An Ol Timer]

I'll have to look them up. I have some of it during construction, a few during the time I owned it and I have one after the new owner crash landed it in a cornfield. He wasn't hurt but the aircraft was not repairable. It's lifetime was 77-83, not long for the time and money involved in constructing it. I have a lot of pics but I don't look at them much any more, so I'll have to see if I can find them.

[An Ol Timer]

Angib,
Being here in the northeast and with temps that vary as much as 30º day to day I stick pretty much to the System Three epoxy, it lets you have a range of from about 40-90º depending on your choice of hardner.

[Arne]

a minor thing, but I try to remember to put a heavy coat of hand cream on up to my elbows when working with this stuff... it makes removal somewhat easier...

[lmh222]

I actually just finished the fiberglass/epoxy on my teardrop. I never would have even considered doing it but I read Steve's page and it "looked" pretty easy. I was really nervous about it because I've never worked with either before and I certainly didn't want to screw it up. I did want this to be a learning experience though and I thought that the epoxy would really be the best thing to protect my "woody" teardrop.

After the first day I just kept saying "I can't believe how easy that was!" It really looks awesome and I'm so happy with it. I've done two coats of epoxy on each "part" (roof, galley hatch, and door) over the course of the past two weeks.

I did notice that on a hot day, the epoxy will cure much faster and hotter. One time, it actually did melt the plastic cup that it was in. The directions specifically warn against "creative mixing" though. They said that at ratios that are too much off, the epoxy will NEVER cure and will remain sticky forever.

Have you ever heard that if you put a clove of garlic in your shoe and walk around with it in there that you'll be able to taste the garlic within 30 minutes? I've never actually tried it but I heard it from a pretty reliable source. That was enough to convince me to wear latex gloves when I work with nasty chemicals. Skin is very porous and stuff really does move through your whole body when you put it on your skin.

I should be wearing an organic cartridge air filter. I bought one but it has just been so hot out that I hate wearing it. I know this stuff causes cancer and all kinds of other problems though.

I just thought that I should pass along my great first-time experience too so that any newbies considering trying epoxy/glass won't be too scared off.

I couldn't have done it without this forum and Steve's page. I'm really grateful to have found all of this information. I haven't updated my website with new pictures in a long time but I'll probably take some photos tomorrow and put them up. The project has really come a long way since those photos were taken.

~Lindsey

[Joanne]

<snip>

I just thought that I should pass along my great first-time experience too so that any newbies considering trying epoxy/glass won't be too scared off.

<snip>

~Lindsey

Hi Lindsey,

My epoxy is on it's way and should be here by the end of the week. I appreciate the encouragement about using the epoxy. I'm a bit concerned about it but I think it's going to work out ok.

Joanne

[angib]

When they say hot, it literally means HOT. I couldn't hold the mixing cup anymore, suprised it didn't melt.

If your mix is getting hot, you've got something wrong:

- You mixed more than you could work in the gel time - novices will always do this, but that's how you learn not to mix too much!

- You used a fast hardener when you should have used a standard or slow hardener - but when working with wood, you don't really have that option, even if you did want to buy several different speed hardeners.

- You didn't transfer the mix into a (clean) roller tray, but left it in the mixing cup. Doh! If you spread out the mix, it has more surface area and so that slows down the exothermic (heat-producing) reaction that occurs when the mix starts gelling.

Andrew

[angib]

I know this stuff causes cancer and all kinds of other problems though.

No, it doesn't.

What epoxy can do is:

a) cause a skin reaction like dermatitis - which is why you always wear gloves.

b) cause a respiratory irritation that is something like asthma - but you will need to be one of the small percentage of people who is sensitive to epoxy odour and be exposed to it a lot - in practice you'll need to use epoxy every day at work to get the necessary level of exposure.

To put this in perspective, using epoxy is way, way safer than letting old engine oil into contact with your skin.

Andrew