How Do I Choose the Right Epoxy?

[kyle@raka.com]

Nice to hear you had some good results what hardener did you use?
Kyle
Raka Epoxy

Originally Posted by Charly

I just mixed and used up nine gallons of RAKA epoxy. I used their slowest hardener on a cylinder mold lamination, with good results.

The wet out, for a 40 foot section with three layers of 3mm okume took three of us about an hour, using foam rollers and a mechanical mixer, in about 78F, mixing three gallons at a time for about six minutes per batch, and immediately spreading it out into flat trays. We probably could have taken two hours and still been OK.

The end result seems fine to me. I saved a 3mm section to test later if I need to.

RAKA has given good support and prompt service. I would not hesitate to purchase from them again.

Charly


Dang. I meant to put this in the RAKA thread. sorry bout that :-)

[Charly]

Hey Kyle,

I used the Tropical 260, with the medium viscosity resin.

I hope to do the second run this week, weather permitting. i will keep reporting what happens in the Kurt Hughes thread in the boatbuilding forum.

Charly

[kyle@raka.com]

Thats good to hear. I was actually planning on giving you a call later this week to ask how the new tropical was working out for you.
Glad everythings good if you need anything give us a call or send me some ideas on it.
Happy boat building
Kyle

[CatBuilder]

QUESTION:

I have some System Three epoxy in my vacuum bag right now, bagging scarf joints (sorry, Kyle... ).

I'm using System Three Hardener #3, which is the slowest. It has a "tack free time" of 8 hours at 25C. It's 99 degrees in the shop (37.2C).

The epoxy has been under vacuum for 5 hours.

When can I take the bag off???

Now...

[AndrewK]

Simple guide is when the wall of your mixing bucket has gone tack free, I assume your 8hr tack free time at 25'C is the thin laminate gel time then at 37'c this would have been just under 4 hrs.
Congratulations, it must feel good to have started the build.