All, I'm beginning the process of preparing to build either a Pygmy boats stich-n-glue or a Schade Guillemot strip. At this point the process is reaccuainting myself with my tools by building Kayak supports, etc. The other half of the process is using the SystemThree Epoxy Trial Kit to familirize myself with epoxy and fiberglass... I started by trying a sealcoat on some spare laminated pine I had around the garage. After coming to some general conculsions about Ventilation, Resipirators, etc... I realized I thought the seal coat was much too thick. after looking through 'The Epoxy book' I found their usage Estimates... 3 oz works out to roughly 5.85 sq ft of coverage... the plank I was working on was much smaller that this... All of this begs the question of how thick should this coat really be? If I pour it on in an S-shape and use a squeegee to spread it, how should I manipulate it? Spreading it about with the squeegee at about a 45 angle to move the epoxy around, then at close to 90 to take off the excess? Should the fill coat just fill the pores, or should it be a thin "glossy" coat over everything? Thnaks Aaron *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Aaron Cunningham wrote: The other half of the process is using the SystemThree > Epoxy Trial Kit to familirize myself with epoxy and fiberglass... I use a system that has the reputation of being thinner than SystemThree, West, etc. this is not a critique of of these other systems, they have an excellent reputation but it may effect my results... > > I started by trying a sealcoat on some spare laminated pine I had around > the garage. I have used okume, ash, cedar and oak which also may be a factor... > > All of this begs the question of how thick should this coat really be? but my first coat soaks into the wood and has no apparent thickness. If > I pour it on in an S-shape and use a squeegee to spread it, how should I > manipulate it? Spreading it about with the squeegee at about a 45 angle to > move the epoxy around, then at close to 90 to take off the excess? Should > the fill coat just fill the pores, or should it be a thin "glossy" coat over > everything? I usually foam roller or foam brush it on. It is critical that you figure out how to get a thin layer if you are thinking about applying fiberglass- it will float on thick spots. There are some benzene based thinners and I have heard something about acetone, but I would try two things first- make sure that the surface you are epoxing is prewarmed- around 80 is ideal. Make sure, especially on the first coat, the temperature drops after application. the wood will absorb the epoxy as it cools. If you warm after application, the wood will release gases leaving a bad finish. I find temperature is the most critical factor in epoxy control. This also pertains to premature hardening using a deep container. best of luck, gabriel > -- Gabriel L Romeu http://studiofurniture.com furniture, mixed media http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR a daily observation, photograph ± text http://studiofurniture.com/paint paintings, etchings, photographs and objects *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Aaron Cunningham wrote: > I'm beginning the process of preparing to build either a Pygmy boats > stich-n-glue or a Schade Guillemot strip. > At this point the process is reaccuainting myself with my tools by building > Kayak supports, etc. The other half of the process is using the SystemThree > Epoxy Trial Kit to familirize myself with epoxy and fiberglass... > > I started by trying a sealcoat on some spare laminated pine I had around > the garage. [snip] > All of this begs the question of how thick should this coat really be? If > I pour it on in an S-shape and use a squeegee to spread it, how should I > manipulate it? Spreading it about with the squeegee at about a 45 angle to > move the epoxy around, then at close to 90 to take off the excess? Should > the fill coat just fill the pores, or should it be a thin "glossy" coat over > everything? Lotta ways to apply epoxy. For large areas, a very thin nap roller is the best. Sys Three (and Pygmy) will sell you the correct roller. The nap should be approx. 1/8 inch. Don't be afraid to roll out the saturation coat. You are only trying to fill the pores. If you apply glass on top, the next coat of epoxy will catch anything the first coat missed. If there will not be any more glass, you will need a second coat of epoxy to complete sealing anyway. Thin coats make better use of the epoxy. For a small area, squeegee to a thin layer and then use a disposable foam brush (type with a dense foam is best -- type with open pores falls apart) to work the epoxy around and spread the epoxy thinly. The Sys Three book has a wealth of tips on how to work with epoxy. Number one is temperature control. Apply warm to get good saturation and good wet out of glass. Number two is **get it out of the pot** quickly -- or it will "go off!" Number three is **always** wear gloves. Enjoy your project. And check out Strosaker's new surf boat ... URL posted here a couple days ago. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR a two-pygmy-kit customer (no affiliation) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I currently use a short nap "mohair" paint roller to apply the seal coat. You only need to apply enough to make the wood appear wet. Don't try to build up any appreciable thickness. Nick > > I'm beginning the process of preparing to build either a Pygmy boats >stich-n-glue or a Schade Guillemot strip. >At this point the process is reaccuainting myself with my tools by building >Kayak supports, etc. The other half of the process is using the SystemThree >Epoxy Trial Kit to familirize myself with epoxy and fiberglass... > > I started by trying a sealcoat on some spare laminated pine I >had around >the garage. After coming to some general conculsions about Ventilation, >Resipirators, etc... I realized I thought the seal coat was much too thick. >after looking through 'The Epoxy book' I found their usage Estimates... 3 oz >works out to roughly 5.85 sq ft of coverage... the plank I was working on >was much smaller that this... > > All of this begs the question of how thick should this coat >really be? If >I pour it on in an S-shape and use a squeegee to spread it, how should I >manipulate it? Spreading it about with the squeegee at about a 45 angle to >move the epoxy around, then at close to 90 to take off the excess? Should >the fill coat just fill the pores, or should it be a thin "glossy" coat over >everything? > -- Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 659-8847 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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