Epoxy......how much i need?

[{NW}BKUSA]

Ok.

Ive tryed to figure out how much epoxy I need to get for deck job im doing and cant seem to figure it out right. I have 2 sheets of MDO 1/2 ply with one 4foot seam joint to be glued with epoxy. then I was advised to coat and sheet the surfaces with class cloth . So how much epoxy will i need to get a smooth top surface and seal the wood real well . We had figured 1 coat epoxy for bottom 2 coats for top and edges dose this sound about right?

so our math looks like this 2 sheets @ 48sq.ft. each = 96sq.ft. +edges total x2 coats will take ? epoxy is this how it should be figured or are we way off the track?

[Raggi_Thor]

Yes you can, I suppose the epoxy manufacturer has some number for square feet per gallon or simmilar. But remember that the glass cloth require approx the same weight of epoxy as the cloth itself.

[{NW}BKUSA]

ya ive tryed to read the charts but they dont look right to me...............

[JEM]

are these 4 x 8 sheets or .....?

what weight cloth are you using? Cloth on both side of the wood?

How do you plan to splice the seam? Butt block? Fiberglass splice?

Sounds like a standard 1.5 gallon kit will give you plenty for your job with some left over. Buying smaller quantities gets pricey and it's always nice to have epoxy to use for misc projects.

[{NW}BKUSA]

yes these are 4x8 sheets.........

cloth we hadnt decided yet most likely the tightest weave we can get......

I plan to run the edge with my routor to cut matching 45 deg. angles then butt them up and block it from underneath till the epoxy set then remove blocks wrap the seam 12inch on bottom and full cloth on top and epoxy surfaces................

[JEM]

ok well I'll assume the cloth is just for wear/abbrassion resistence since you're using 1/2" (12mm) ply.

If it were just the decking and no cloth, you could maybe squeak by with 1.5 gallons for 2 coats plus what you'll need to splice the 2 panels together.

But since your glassing both surfaces with (assumed) 7.5 ounce tight woven cloth, you'll need about 3 gallons to do everything you discussed. Why glassing both sides? You shouldn't have to mess with the underside except for sealing with epoxy.

Don't forget, to splice the panels, you'll need some filler like wood flour to make glue. If splicing with cloth only, follow this procedure: http://www.jemwatercraft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25

you'll be working on a much larger scale but you get the idea.

Note: you'll be working with some heavy wood. Don't expect your splice seam to hold through rough handling during installation just with using 7.5 ounce cloth. Get a helper and pick it up supporting both sides evenly. Once in place on top of some framing, then it should be ok. But if this deck is not supported accross the 48" measurement in 3-4 evenly spaced places, then that's a whole different story. Then you'd need to go to wooden butt-blocking.

Hope that helps.

[{NW}BKUSA]

I was only going to do a 12 inch wide ban of cloth along the seam for extra streagth in holding joint. the epoxy is to seal the wood on botton so we thought the cloth might help the joint. the seam itself is fully suported from below. You sound like 1/2in is to light a material for a deck ?

[JEM]

no 1/2 should be plenty thick. I'm just saying it should have some support under it other than just the outside edges of the plywood.