Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm going to building a 5'x10' woody and was wondering how much epoxy I'm going to need to buy. Currently trying to work out my budget.

Thanks,

Mike

That depends on whether you are using cloth, or not, and if you are using cloth, what the weight of the cloth is, the epoxy brand (they very significantly min cost) and how many layers of epoxy you are going to put on. For estimate purposes, I recommend a 2 or 3 gallon kit...

West is a "standard" although I developed a sensitivity over time to it. It works great...a supplier I can recommend is Jamestown Distributers. Jamestown Distributers They also carry an excellent line of hardware and fittings.

RAKA...I've never heard anything bad about them and they carry a 4 oz 60 inch cloth. A 3 gallon kit is $144 direct from them atRAKA I've never used RAKA except for their cloth, but they are highly recommended. Ask for Larry and explain what you want to do.

MAS Slow..this is what I currently use, a 2 1/4 gallon kit is $205 and a 3 gallon kit is $246. I've had excellent luck with Newfound Newfound. They also carry flexible longboards and other supplies.

System 3 also seems to be a good manufacturer based on what I have heard. I've never used it though.

Keep in mind on your estimate that you will need to get pumps for the epoxy (about $20) and squeegies, disposable brushes, and some sort of cheap mixing containers. If you are using the epoxy for gluing or fairing, you will probaly want some additives ($50 depending on manufacturer).

...checkout raka.com ...very good people to work with...I just bought their 3gal kit of non-blushing clearcoat epoxy...154 bucks + another 75 bucks worth of assorted supplies/filler/pigment/shipping...this is my first attempt at using epoxy inna wholesale manner......
madjack

Raka!!
Never had a problem in two boat and 5, T/D projects so-far!
Three gallons, plenty!!

Another thumbs up for Raka, from a first-time epoxyer.

3 gallons is more than enough...I don't think I used 1 complete gallon on a tear, 2 are woodies and the 3rd one is getting a ton of epoxy on it as it gets painted. Also...remember that what you use for the exterior wood can effect your usage...reg. ply will soak it up more than a nice sheet of marine grade mahogany, but only on the first coat...I use West System...2 boats, 3 tears...ok ok Steve...so ya got me by 2....Doug

Hey Doug; does a painted TD require more epoxy than a woody... a/k/a "a ton?"; I have one soak coat, a 2nd coat, then filler (most of everything sanded down again to smooth and two more coats on top of the filler, hoping to follow w/ primer and paint by Interlux?

Keith...I only say that as I use epoxy to smooth out and build up the ply through multiple layers and on a clear finish on top of wood, you are looking through the finish and seeing the wood grain, so you can get away with not as many coats, on a painted one, it's gotta be a lot smoother especially if painted a dark color as all the eye is going to see is color and light reflection, imperfections are going to show. A run or sag in clear epoxy on top of wood won't be detected as easily as one that is painted. Once you put the epoxy on and do the sand...you will see that there may be some orange peel, bubbles etc...that need to be taken care of. I know you found that out. Filling with bondo requires a primer over it to paint, epoxy can be shot without a primer on it...besides...I hate doing bondo work and always end up redoing something that I didn't get sanded correctly...Doug

PS...so you know my idea of what a ton is...you're doing it...

Wow! A lot of information, thanks for all of you that replied. I have checked into Raka and found a lot of stuff that I needed.

One other question that I have is what thickness of fiberglass do I need there were so many choices.

Juneaudave touched on the subject a little talking about a 4oz cloth.

RAKA...I've never heard anything bad about them and they carry a 4 oz 60 inch cloth. A 3 gallon kit is $144 direct from them at RAKA I've never used RAKA except for their cloth, but they are highly recommended. Ask for Larry and explain what you want to do.

Is that what I need to use? I'm sure there is a difference, but since it's my first time I'm not sure what to use.



Thanks,

Mike

For me...I don't use any cloth on the exterior, just a good grade of ply, like a marine grade if you want a mohagany one, or some sort of other nice veneered ply, dye for color and epoxy with an auto clear coat over it. Doug

benzu wrote:
Juneaudave touched on the subject a little talking about a 4oz cloth.

RAKA...I've never heard anything bad about them and they carry a 4 oz 60 inch cloth. A 3 gallon kit is $144 direct from them at RAKA I've never used RAKA except for their cloth, but they are highly recommended. Ask for Larry and explain what you want to do.

Is that what I need to use? I'm sure there is a difference, but since it's my first time I'm not sure what to use.

Thanks,

Mike

Glass or no glass...that's a bit of a contentuous point. If the truth be known...I believe that Doug is correct. I don't think you need glass on a Tear. The epoxy will do fine. I'm using some glass on mine because 1) I have it already, 2) I'm comfortable with working with it, and 3) I'm using cedar strips and that is what I am comfortable with working with. For ply...based on what I have heard...don't bother with the glass...Sure hope that helps...Juneaudave

Well, my 4 coats, plus fillers sure felt like a "ton"... I guess the hours it took to sand it all to get a nice smooth finish is consider what.. a MEGA ton... ... but in my opinion.. well worth it; I think it looks great. I wish I would have used "nice" ply and gone w/ a woody knowing what I know now;.... but hey.. TD #2 right?

The only reason I was using fiberglass is because I'm inlaying two different types of wood to make a design on the side walls and I thought the glass would hold it together better. Is that true or should I just stay with just the epoxy.

I'd say..use the epoxy to glue up the pieces, or the inlay, then coat it out with epoxy over it...that's a lot of cloth that might not be needed...but that's just my opinion..in my album there is a pic of a boat top deck with no cloth on it...and it's all strip mohagany...strips were epoxied down to a ply sub deck and epoxy top coating...Doug