Epoxy to use on wood?

[JoseSanchez]

What would the best epoxy be to use on a wood bulkhead repair job? I cut out the rotten wood and am going to join new piece in. It needs to be joined in place, not outside the boat. What is best to use?

thanks
Jose

[marshmat]

West System is a bit on the pricey side, but is strong, predictable and easy to work with. It tends to get along pretty well with plywood. (No resin will get along well with non-dryed timber though.... they work well on plywood because the veneer-laminating process cooks out all the oils in the wood.)

[bilgeboy]

Hey Jose!

I remember your "rotten bulkhead" thread. Way back when I thought I had just a rotten bulkhead, too. Well it was saturated with diesel, as was the adjoining floor, etc, etc...this is the kind of project that never ends. I've already ordered a new diesel tank, have to pull the engine to get the tank out. That and rain that won't end in New England, all very depressing...

On the bright side, I just wanted to echo what Marshmat was suggesting. I've bought a few gallons of West System now, and have been experimenting. It is one of the more expensive epoxies, but for the inexperienced and a relatively small job, why not.

Jamestown Distributors has a decent deal on a "kit" with a gallon of epoxy and corresponding hardener, with metering pumps that really makes the job easy. They throw in some mixing sticks and few yards or 6oz cloth for about $100.

The metering system is really nice. Makes mixing up a batch relatively clean, so you will wind up keeping the pumps on the jugs, and looking for stuff around the house and boat to fix with epoxy!

Have fun (yes I am mostly reminding myself of that),

Mike

[longliner45]

bilgeboy ,I hope you and yours are doing ok with all the rain ,longliner

[JoseSanchez]

yes.. I have been (slowly) progressing on the bulkhead repair job. Ground away all the glass and exposed the moist areas down low. Cut off the top 6 inches and found good wood under most. I need to cut down a bit farther on one point. The low parts that are moist are not real bad. Im going to dry, saturate with rot cure crap, and glass over THICK. I think this will be safe, not dnagerous and a good strong cure.

Not sure Ill need a gallon. I need to join a piece about 8ft long by about 6-8 inches high. The top attaches to a wooden 2x4 and Im going to slather it all up good and screw it down. The bottom will be joined to good wood, and the sides will be joined also. OR so this is the plan. That given.. how much west anyone think I need?

Jose