Epoxy resin options

[WFO Speedracer]

I have used a lot of epoxy over the years , I started with West System which is by any measure excellent epoxy but it's rather expensive,
Then I moved to US Composites also excellent and much less expensive, then I skipped around a bit, the last epoxy I used was called SC110 , I got it off Ebay fairly cheap but I have had mixed results with it so at the moment I cannot recommend it.

I find myself out of epoxy again and found this Resinist epoxy on WWW.OVERSTOCKEPOXY.COM, I just ordered some , shipping was reasonable at $14.00 for Fed Ex ground shipping $47.09 total , after I have used it I will post up my thoughts on it.

If it pans out it could be a great option for budget minded folks and I don't mind being a product tester..

Resinist Epoxy Resin

Disclaimer: This product's color is out of specification* Bottle configuration (Round vs Square) may differ from photos shown. Resinist Tabletop Epoxy Offers: Easy 1:1 Ratio High Gloss Water-Resistant Coating Self Leveling Consistent Viscosity Food Safe (Complies with FDA Standards) No VOC's...

overstockepoxy.com

 

[kevbo]

For consumer use, find something that is non blushing. Most table top epoxy is very similar to West.

 

[Baja 252]

I’ve always used US Composites and never had an issue. But always interested in a better option. Let us know how it works out.

 

[TOBY]

I use this epoxy can’t complain
The 1980 is more for carbon
The 2000 has more flex
Many options on hardeners also having fusion resin

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I have heard of them before but never used their products, I have also in the past used MAS resins and System three . both good top quality resins at better prices than West Systems..

If the Resinst doesn't work out for laminating I have some countertops that need coating lol.

 

[bird]

I only use Tygon....wait wrong thread.

I started with West Marine because it was across the street. I've been using TotalBoat last two orders to fiberglass and fill. I still order BSI (Bob Smith Industries) Epoxy Glue for building stuff I care about. Jet Ski repair and RC boat builds is my main usage.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I wish I had seen this sooner on the website but this is the best deal on epoxy pumps on the planet , period, also some good deals on mixing cup and mixing stick sets and color pigments . My resin will be here tomorrow , so three days shipping, not too shabby .

Pump Dispenser (1 ounce, fits 1 gallon bottles)

When resins are used often, hand pump dispensers can assist with easier dispensing and less mess. These dispensers fit our half gallon* and 1 gallon bottles. One complete press of the pump yields approximately 1 fluid ounce of product. Please note that thinner resins such as urethanes pump much...

overstockepoxy.com

 

[bird]

I wish I had seen this sooner on the website but this is the best deal on epoxy pumps on the planet , period, also some good deals on mixing cup and mixing stick sets and color pigments . My resin will be here tomorrow , so three days shipping, not too shabby .

Pump Dispenser (1 ounce, fits 1 gallon bottles)

When resins are used often, hand pump dispensers can assist with easier dispensing and less mess. These dispensers fit our half gallon* and 1 gallon bottles. One complete press of the pump yields approximately 1 fluid ounce of product. Please note that thinner resins such as urethanes pump much...

overstockepoxy.com

West marine came with a pump for each when I bought them. My latest order of Total Boat did as well.

How long do you get pumps to last?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

West marine came with a pump for each when I bought them. My latest order of Total Boat did as well.

How long do you get pumps to last?

Usually I go through a couple of gallons before I need new pumps, I think this will be gallon #3

 

[88kawi5fiddy]

I have heard of them before but never used their products, I have also in the past used MAS resins and System three . both good top quality resins at better prices than West Systems..

If the Resinst doesn't work out for laminating I have some countertops that need coating lol.

Resin research is fine. I used their 2000 series UV resistant allegedly, but it does turn orange in the jug fairly quickly. Might be the temperature here tho oxidizing it fast. I usually go medium cure for working in 85-95 degrees. For winter I'd buy the fast cure.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Epoxy came in yesterday but it's nasty and raining here so I haven't checked it out yet , I will keep you posted when I do, the temp needs to get back up a bit and the humidity needs to go back down before I test it .

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Doing some epoxy testing today, I am using the RESINIST epoxy I got from overstock epoxy.com , it is 72 degrees here and 75% relative humidity, not ideal conditions but close enough , I am starting off with something rather mundane , fairing with microballoons filler.

I purged the pumps of old epoxy and ran acetone through them so we are starting fresh , this epoxy is thicker than some I have used but it was stored inside so I can't say for sure on that part yet.

I pulled the two sections that I glassed in on top of the hood and it pulled really smoothly no surprises thus far , I am timing it to see what the cure time actually is but I will be pleasantly surprised if it cures enough to work with today, I started mixing it up at 1:30 PM , I am working in the shade not in direct sunlight.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

It's been 3.5 hrs and it's pretty well set up, at least to the point where it is firm , it is not fully cured by any means but at 70 degrees and with zero sun exposure I really didn't expect it to be, it should be cured tomorrow morning and then we see how it sands out , so far I am impressed.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I checked it at 6:00 this morning and it passed the fingernail test which literally is can you leave an impression it it with your fingernail , it still has some tack to it, it was 55 degrees here last night and 91% humidity so again these are not optimal conditions for epoxy to cure.

I will give it till this afternoon and start sanding it, so far there are no surprises and it has exceeded the SC110 at every level plus it is 1:1 ratio which makes measuring small amounts out really simple.

I also have a small inside patch I need to do so I will start that as well , if all that pans out I will give it a real test.

What I like to do usually is build with fiberglass a little higher than needed and then I cut it back down with the grinder and a flap disc, that is the true test of how well the epoxy bonds if it flakes off at all you know that it isn't bonded well , I will be doing exactly that on the front bond rail I rebuilt on the Superjet .

 

[mikesx]

I checked it at 6:00 this morning and it passed the fingernail test which literally is can you leave an impression it it with your fingernail , it still has some tack to it, it was 55 degrees here last night and 91% humidity so again these are not optimal conditions for epoxy to cure.

I will give it till this afternoon and start sanding it, so far there are no surprises and it has exceeded the SC110 at every level plus it is 1:1 ratio which makes measuring small amounts out really simple.

I also have a small inside patch I need to do so I will start that as well , if all that pans out I will give it a real test.

What I like to do usually is build with fiberglass a little higher than needed and then I cut it back down with the grinder and a flap disc, that is the true test of how well the epoxy bonds if it flakes off at all you know that it isn't bonded well , I will be doing exactly that on the front bond rail I rebuilt on the Superjet .

What didn’t you like about the SC110? You said it was hit or miss, can you elaborate?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Mostly issues with it curing in a timely fashion and a few repairs I made on the Superjet a while back were not adhered properly , I have used it before with no issues, maybe this was a bad batch, there is no way to know for sure , I do know I don't like waiting days for epoxy to kick , the resin it turns a whitish color if it gets too cold and more importantly I don't like doing work twice. If this had been on a customers ski I would be pissed !


I threw some heat to one side of the hood and sanded it out , it sands well and shows no signs of lifting , it also feathers in nicely, I do realize this is more a function of the filler than the epoxy but if it doesn't cure properly you can't sand it out , it will just gum up the sandpaper .

Realistically any epoxy you want to keep should be protected from freezing, I usually keep mine inside when the temp drops, this time I didn't.

The other side I left alone for a few hours, it also sanded nicely with no heat applied , so far the results are very impressive.

This epoxy is on clearance because it's off color, in other words it isn't exactly clear which doesn't matter in the least for my application and usage.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Test #2 , 72 degrees 59% humidity , parked in the full sun this time , I would expect to see some different results, I pulled the same two spots with microballoons again because they were low where I removed the vents in top of the hood , the hood has a crown in it on those parts and it make take a third pull to get it just right.

Done at 12:00 today , lets see where we are at 5:00 today.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Test #3 , 70 degrees 48% humidity , I mixed the epoxy with cabosil and pulled it in some areas where I had filled in the footholds , cabosil is much denser than microballons filler and usually kicks the epoxy off much faster pulled at 1:30 PM , parked in partial sun.

At 1:00 PM I checked the second microballoon filler pull , it had set up to the point you could no longer pull it in an hour in full sun, thats impressive at 70 -72 degrees.

If it passes this next test I have found my new epoxy brand.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Checked it at 5:00PM , microballoons was fully set but still slightly tacky , cabosil was mostly set up and still tacky , with slightly just warmer temps and lower humidity I can easily see applying this and sanding it in the same day.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Sanded both today with no issues other than I am going to have to pull the areas on the hood again, not the epoxys fault it's my fault for moving the damn hood vents.