painting VE over Poly to seal inside tank?

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Jgfmobile, Mar 31, 2021.

  1. Jgfmobile
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    It is against 3/4 plywood mostly, so my layup is about 3/16 to 1/4 inch thick. Some of it i planned on going thinner, because its against the plywood, and high on the wall. The matte i have seems very thick, enough to do a freestanding tank.... So i have been halfing it, and most of the tank is 2 "halfs" thick by now. It lays up easier when more thin.

    The tank seems solid, though ive had to cut out some bubbles. It has square edges and even some upside down elements, so its been a rough one for me to start with. It currently has some bubbles cut out, and ive been doing a final prep to start with the gallon of VE i have. Ill be sure to rough it up well.

    I have learned along the way ... You cant layup a z pattern, it will bubble somewhere. You have to do smaller sections in this case. Also its essential to saturate, then allow setup of resin over wood ... Then REWET IT AGAIN for the next layup. And always be certain to allow enough time for the matte to become floppy, before manipulating it around bends. And finally: keep the brush on it and keep looking for bubbles until the end, or you may find bubbles tomorrow.

    I don't have wax for the VE. Will it not seal out water, unless wax cured? Will the heat cure it eventually? And wouldn't there be risk of the PE delaminating, because the water can seep through it over the years? I had read that VE requires 10 mil to avoid water permeation, and that 10 mils of interlux 2000 was the END ALL to water permeation.

    Im just trying to do it once. This truck is my home and my everything, and i just need it to work.

    What it is is a Squat toilet, with a shower above it, and below all of that is the tank im fiberglassing ... Its 36 x 36 x 18 inches basically. I did all this to avoid the tanks freezing, if i should one day find myself living in a cold environment. Its extra tough because i have to fiberglass in a PVC pipe for a drain,also seal another protrusion from the shower drain up in the corner which goes through the tank, and also seal a protrusion for the PEX tube which comes in for the "tank rinse" ... Ohh and also the protrusion for the "tank vent", which goes up then down, to below the vehicle. I plan on counting on acetone-wet PVC and fiberglass for 3 of the 4 protrusions, and just using a below waterline sealant for the PEX protrusion inside this tank.

    Thanks! This project is kinda driving me mad, especially since i have to deal with the fumes after the fiberglass rounds, up in here! Ive found that even one full whiff or acetone or the "ester" can be really bad for me! I keep exhaust fans on, but there is still a smell for about a day after 'glassing.

    I just want to wrap this thing up, and silicone the lid on!
     
  2. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    A coat of low volatiles paint on the outside of the tank will take care of any polyester odours.
     
  3. Jgfmobile
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    Some of the tank is against the wall and vanity. Plus the top is open; it is a separate piece. This tank is literally "glassed in place".
     
  4. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    You have probably contravened a brace of by-laws, regulations, ordinances, and tankage standards with this project, but if you don't tell anyone, I won't ! :)
     
  5. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    You can buy through wall fittings so you don't need to glass in the PVC, but glassing to PVC works well.

    No need for acetone, just sand the surface thoroughly and it will bond well.

    Not so much for PEX, it flexes a great deal and can be difficult to bond to. Find a brass through wall fitting.

    First off, nothing is waterproof, materials just have varying degrees of water resistance, virtually everything absorbs water.

    Polyester resin does not leak, but it does absorb a very small amount of water, so does VE and epoxy, just less.

    If you don't have wax for the VE, buy some, it's cheap and you don't have many other options.

    You can puts two coats of VE on if you want, no wax in the first one. Just the second coat.

    The aren't any mat types that 1/2 of a layer applied twice would be 1/4 inch, maybe 1/8, and that would be the heavy type (3oz).

    Your air bubbles are going to be a problem, they need to be fixed.
     
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  6. Jgfmobile
    Joined: Mar 2021
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    Ok. So it simply won't cure without wax? Im in the middle of nowhere, and im simply exhausted from this truck build. Time won't cure it, no way? Heat from Florida, and my propane heater won't do it either? (I cant put the tank into the sun, its stuck inside the truck).
    What if it were coated with the Interlux, wouldn't that cure it?

    Thanks for the information! This truck has been alot harder than i had anticipated. Im just about losing my mind here.
     
  7. Jgfmobile
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    I envisioned this thing, and now it time to pay the Piper! Wait for the pics, they're being moderated
     
  8. Boat Design Net Moderator
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    Boat Design Net Moderator Moderator

    You can use the "upload a file" button under the reply area to attach the photos directly to your forum post.
     
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  9. Jgfmobile
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    I have added them to an album, but it does not seem to yet be available...
     
  10. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    If you go to "upload a file" next to the "post reply" button, you might be able to post them direct to your post.
     
  11. Jgfmobile
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    I have added them to an album on here, i don't think they have been yet moderated. Its like 15 pics
     
  12. Boat Design Net Moderator
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    Boat Design Net Moderator Moderator

    The gallery is mostly for images which also stand on their own, e.g. drawings of a new design you are working on or a boat you are building. If the photos are mostly relevant only to a particular forum post, it would be better to attach them to the post itself using the "upload a file" button under the reply area.
     
  13. Jgfmobile
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    Location: Florida

    Jgfmobile Junior Member

  14. Jgfmobile
    Joined: Mar 2021
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    Location: Florida

    Jgfmobile Junior Member


  15. Jgfmobile
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    Jgfmobile Junior Member

    Thanks moderator
     
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