Resin question.

[MouseTrap]

I am repairing a soft spot in my deck. I have cut out the rotten decking. As I am getting ready to replace the decking, I am using West System G-Flex 650 epoxy to encapsulate the exposed wood and replacement plywood. It is a lot thicker than I thought it would be. Should I use the G-Flex to bond the fiberglass mat, or something else (Resin versus epoxy)?

If so, what specifically?

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[F/V First Team]

Epoxy and mat don't mix the best.

I always thought gflex was to bond things together, like an old pair of boots that are dying, not impregnating raw fiberglass

 

[El Mar]

If you are working with fiberglass cloth go with straight West epoxy. The stuff you mentioned is mainly for bonding.

 

[MouseTrap]

Okay, so now that I have encased the remaining plywood that I have exposed, as well as cut and shaped to the repair piece... Will resin bond to said epoxy?

Or do I need to grind that out and start over?

 

[El Mar]

If you started with epoxy you need to stay with it.

Epoxy will bond to poly but poly will not bond to epoxy that well.

 

[jrg]

If you started with epoxy you need to stay with it.

Epoxy will bond to poly but poly will not bond to epoxy that well.

Bingo...

I like to make my repairs using polyester resin. I like it for hull repairs b/c you can gelcoat right over it whether spraying or using a paste of gelcoat and filler. If you're just painting the area, epoxy will work just fine.
I spent most of the evening in my door yard laminating a bow repair on my Eastern... If you're interested in going with resin, I have far, far too much material for my repair, so you're welcome to whatever you need - Resin, 1708 cloth and mat. Lemme know.

jrg

 

[MouseTrap]

I might take you up on the resin offer. I've got plenty of glass mat. I'll use the epoxy bellow deck, and resin above. Thanks!