Need some advice on Expoxy

[merrile]

I am getting ready to start putting in new floors and transom on my boat resotration project. I know I will be flammed but. Home Depot has some 3m expoxy will that do for the inside of the transom and new deck? I need this to be cheap, I am broke but need to get started. Where would you recommend me getting expoxy in a jiffy.


I also plan to spray bed liner on the floor when I am done.

thanks,

merrile

[souljour2000]

I would not use any epoxy from Home depot...I would try to find a dealer in your area ...I use US Composites here in Florida and they ship nationwide very fast...I can get 3 gallons (includes 2 gallons thin epoxy resin and one gallon slow hardener) for about 142.00 including tax( or less than 50.00/gallon delivered top my door)...Is is good quality epoxy.Maybe Home depot in your area has a good product though I have not seen anything other than small tubes or pint-size amounts of epoxy in any hardware stores much less big-box stores...The gallon of polyester resin I bought at a Home depot last year was defective and already half-cured and I had to return it...it was also a high-wax casting polyester resin not good for boats...I use epoxy for everything now...polyester resin is so nasty to deal with compared to epoxy in a multitude of ways...good luck and post pics...!

[gonzo]

Cheap and poor quality usually go together. Probably you should do a realistic estimate of the job and see if it is within your budget. Using materials that will fail is a waste of your money.

[missinginaction]

I hate to say this but "being broke" and restoring just don't go together. Gonzo is giving you good advise even though it's not what you wanted to hear.

MIA

[merrile]

yeah, I found a local place and got some decent polyester resign. I know its not expoxy but I think it will be fine for the work that I am doing!

[souljour2000]

You can often buy used cheaper than restoring...but when you restore you can make it to suit...gonna cost you a little change if your in a hurry...not so much if your on a "5-year plan"...depends on size of project boat though...there are some people with 40-footers who have been restoring them for 25 years....most of those boat projects are more botany experiments though..at least the one's in backyards here in Florida...

[Pierre R]

try www.raka.com I have been very satisfied with the speed of deliver and the products.

[wet-foot]

I checked out the US Composite site to see about the epoxy you mentioned, nice price! How does it compare with West System Epoxy? If you order 5 gallons of resin do they use a 5 gallon container or all 1 gallon jugs?

Also, polyester resin stinks, will make you stink and it shrinks, "DON'T"

[souljour2000]

Not sure....but I would think it would all be in gallon jugs....have only ordered 3 gal...and one and a half....just got the phenolic micro-ballonns and its working well as a fairing material...Jest marine wanted $15.99 for 1.7 ounces of that stuff....I ordered 2 big round one pound containers from USC, or 32 ounces for about $45.00 shipped...

[wet-foot]

Thanks for the info. I e-mailed US Composites and they sent me their epoxy data sheet so I could compare it to West System. Their epoxy only has a 1 year shelf life but it should be fine for most applications. The price is certainly excellent. Really nice price on pigment too! Will give their products a try for sure. For main glasswork I'll stay with West though ..... Just my choice.

[souljour2000]

Hey there Wetfoot....glad you are liking the US Composites product.. I have never tried anything else..it seems to be a good product...the shipping is always solid...and the price is almost incomparable for the quality of the product...also...I had good reports in this forum about their product...someone in here I knew had been around the block a few times...that sealed the deal and I ordered from them...haven't been disappointed nor has my wallet either...try their phenolic microballoons ..try 2 pounds for about $45.00 shipped...I think Jest Marine wanted $ 15.99 plus tax for a little can of 1.7 ounces the other day...I made for the exits rather quickly with the sales clerk looking on in askance...

[Herman]

Keep the containers closed (especially the curing agent) and then shelf life is not that big a deal. For resins shelf life of the stuff I sell is 2 or 3 years (depending on factory).