Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am in the process of building the little unit. I am going to use luan on the top and plywood for the sides. I am going to use fiberglass epoxy on the sides and top. Can I just use the epoxy without using the fiber? What would you suggest filling any screw holes with before I apply the epoxy? What is used to clean up a brush after applying the epoxy?

Thanks for any help

Epoxy by itself will not seal the joints and will fail there if not reinforced with something (fiberglass, kevlar, bed sheets, whatever). You can fill the holes with a mixture of epoxy and micro baloons or wood flour (the microballons are easier to sand. Use cheap chip brushes for the epoxy and throw them away when you are done. But any tools you do need to clean can be cleaned with acetone before the epoxy sets.

Bill

Using the glass on seams and over screws will lessen the likelihood of cracks and pops. I filled nail holes with a fiberglass reinforced body filler, but normal body filler or even sawdust mixed with glue would work. I ran the resin over luan on mine, and now after two years I am adding a flexible chip guard over the roof due to a small crack and some screw pops. I did not use glass. I will definitely be using glass on #2.

Guys,

I have been reading all the fiberglass related threads I can find. I appreciate you sharing your experience and questions. I am also planning a fiberglass covered exterior. I had the same question about whether I can use just resin or whether I should used cloth everywhere. After reading your posts I have decided to do the whole thing in fiberglass cloth.

One question. is 6 lb cloth the right choice?

Do you mean 6 oz?

I'd really like to know what Steve Frederick recommends... I think it's something lighter than 6 oz. Does anyone know? How about one of you guys that bought his manual?

Mike...

I use the 6oz exclusively since that it what I sell.

Thanks, I did mean 6 oz.

Laminating epoxy resin will seal the end grains of plywood. At least two coats should be applied or even more if the end grain isn't filled. An excellent filler/thickener that I have used to mix into the epoxy is "Cabosil". This is a silica compound and its as tough as nails when cured. It's great stuff for filling holes and can be drilled to take a new screw.
Wash your brush out with cheap white vinegar. It will clean the brush like new. Rinse in acetone to remove the vinegar and you can start using the brush when you need it.

Kody

Kody wrote:Laminating epoxy resin will seal the end grains of plywood. At least two coats should be applied or even more if the end grain isn't filled.

And, ideally, those two or more coats should be applied wet-on-wet - as soon as the first application has soaked in and the end grain is visible again, apply another. This doesn't need to be a new batch, as the resin will soak in quicker than the epoxy sets, as long as you're not working in a desert.

Applying second coats onto cured resin is more likely to leave small voids, which will eventually draw in moisture.