One of the key advantages of learning from the experts is that you pick up some great tips for saving time and money when using epoxy products. Here are some from the recent Beginners Course held at West System International’s UK headquarters near Southampton: Suffering hair loss? “You’ll get through a lot of cheap brushes ... Top Tips From The WEST SYSTEM Beginners Course More
Seasonal hints and tips from the professionals Even though the winter is loosing its grip, we still have frosty mornings but there’s no need to stop those DIY epoxy projects at the boatyard – just make allowances for the lower temperatures and seasonal damp conditions. Keep your resin and hardener warm Epoxy resin and hardener ... Tricks of the Trade More
Experienced in making furniture as a hobby, retired fashion photographer David Falcon Grey decided his next project would be a hand built, retro-styled motorboat. Although far from being finished, the result is stunning. Back in the late 30s and again in 50s and 60s, several American and Italian boatyards began to produce some head-turning launches ... Building a modern classic launch More
Keen cyclist Chris Thompson realised that the versatility and strength of WEST SYSTEM epoxy would allow him to make his dream bicycle out of hardwood. The result is a roadworthy work of art. Take several sections of dense brown oak, hollow them out and then assemble them into a frame, one you have designed after ... A bicycle made of wood? More
The versatility of WEST SYSTEM epoxy allowed keen sailor Jaanus Tamme to create prototype pulley blocks from a back-pack ‘factory’ whilst attending regattas. Now he has a global distribution network. Based outside the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, keen racing sailor Jaanus Tamme has developed a remarkable and award-winning range of pulley blocks ... The Innovators – Ropeye More
Joe White and his son James run ‘J White Guitar Workshops’, a custom guitar build and repair business just outside the English town of Aldershot, Hampshire and can boast many celebrities amongst their clientele. Guitars belonging to Status Quo, Stereophonics, The Rolling Stones, The Kaiser Chiefs and many more have all come in for ‘a bit of ... How to repair guitar headstock / neck break with epoxy More
Back to basics I just completed the 38 week Boat Building Course at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy. Like several other students on the course, I’d spent several years in a corporate environment and was looking to get back to basics, working with traditional techniques and materials to create something with my own hands. ... My Project: an 18’ sea kayak By Duncan Riddle More
“The wind is coming up. Tell the boys they can commence with the race.” Fittingly, these would be the last words of Meade A. Gougeon as he watched a fleet of sailboats, including his trimaran Adagio, assembling for the Great Lakes Multihull Regatta in front of his home on the Saginaw Bay. Gougeon died Sunday, August ... Meade A. Gougeon: September 25, 1938–August 27, 2017 More
From boat enthusiast to boat builder When I was a kid, my dad used to take me to the seaside and we’d go out fishing on a tiny boat with a four-horse outboard motor. When I went to university to study engineering, I got involved with the scuba diving club and spent time around all ... My Project: an 18ft classic powerboat by Simon Hawksley More
There’s only one thing worse than a dark hallway and that’s door envy. Just what we got when we talked to our own Gary Thompson about his new, epoxy coated, Breakfast Room, green painted wood and glass front door. Part 1: Gary’s front and back door project Epoxy expert Gary Thompson had known for a ... Gary’s new doors: weatherproof and very pretty More
Phil Oligario restored his first racing moth in his garage nearly a decade ago. Fast forward to now and Phil and his company, Atomik UK, build the Chris Allen-designed Voodoo Moth, which rides high on low-drag Macita foils. We asked Phil how he got obsessed with moths, how he turned his hobby into a vocation ... The Atomik Voodoo Moth: blink and you’ll miss it More
Since the Second World War, Leopoldo Colombo and his family have been building exceptional wooden boats on Lake Como in Italy. Now, Leopoldo’s grandson, Giovanni, is overseeing the construction of a beautiful motor day cruiser – the Poldo 23. Could it be the yard’s best model yet? The story of Colombo Leopoldo boat yard began ... Colombo Leopoldo: boat building tradition on Lake Como More
Meeting our Thames Rowing Skiff: “Maggie” I’ve always dreamed of owning a Thames Rowing Skiff, so when I retired, I started searching for one. I met with Mark Edwards at Richmond who builds superb skiffs. One of his beautifully restored skiffs was up for sale and my wife Maggie and I went to look at ... A Complete Restoration of a Badly Damaged Thames Rowing Skiff By Dave Webb More
Andrew Wolstenholme is the renaissance man of naval architecture. He’s designed everything from classic broads sailing yachts to production powerboats and gentlemen’s launches, and he’s more prolific than ever. Epoxycraft asked him how he first got interested in boat design; what drives his design philosophy and why so many of his boats use wood/epoxy construction ... Q&A with Naval Architect Andrew Wolstenholme More
“When I was tasked with building and installing a new wheel at a historic water mill, I wanted to do it right. I’m proud of what we achieved, and the new wheel isn’t just beautiful – it will also last for decades,” says Tony Gray, Trust Joiner at the National Trust for Jersey. Quétival Mill ... Beautiful new wheel for historic Jersey water mill More
If you need to know how to mend a puncture in fibreglass, check this out. This boat owner’s 17ft fibreglass boat sustained a major hit in a storm which caused a puncture hole in the hull. John used the WEST SYSTEM® Mini Pack after it was recommended to him, to mend the hole himself – ... How to fix collision damage in fibreglass (boat hull repair) More
Respect for clients, associates and suppliers is the cornerstone of Ocean Marine’s successful and growing business. The company, which was founded by Mr. Haris Kyriakides in Limassol, Cyprus in 1990, supplies leading marine products, brands and services to customers across the island, including WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products. After I came back from studying business in ... All about: Ocean Marine Equipment Ltd More
If you’re going to spend your time off doing jobs around the house instead of reading the paper or going to the pub, you at least want repairs that look great. Get the results you need with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy, says our DIY master David Johnson. Our epoxy guru David has jobs to do around ... Better DIY with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy More
When HF Marin Sweden’s Founder and Managing Director Krister Bewert returned from a nine-year trans-Atlantic voyage, he didn’t know what the future would hold. Then, he got a golden opportunity to distribute WEST SYSTEM® and PRO-SET® epoxy to boatbuilders and repair yards across Sweden and he’s never looked back. When my wife, Gunilla, and I ... All about: HF Marin Sweden More
In February 2017 we featured a beautiful wooden bath tub built by the multi-talented Marco Casavecchia – an architect, boat builder and cabinet maker based in Susa, Italy. We caught up with Marco again this month to hear all about his latest project, a stunning and unusual wooden sink built for one of his customers. ... The stylish and sleek, handcrafted, wooden sink More
We found this great blog online showing you the step by step process of successfully installing a bow thruster tunnel into your boat yourself – it even shows what to do if there are certain obstacles in the way. The blog comes complete with photos so you can see what the different stages look like. ... Bow thruster tunnel Installation More
When this DIY enthusiast was offered a free oak slab from an old tree which had been cut down, he jumped at the opportunity to turn it into something incredible. This great little blog documents his process of turning the spalted chunk of wood into a beautifully finished table – with a little help from ... Recycling an oak slab More
Is one or more of your lifeline stanchions coming away from its base? It’s a common problem but it’s vital that it’s fixed quickly. A repair with thickened WEST SYSTEM® epoxy and fibreglass will do an excellent job, as our technical expert Hamish explains. There’s a lot of stress placed on the humble stanchion. Often ... We asked Hamish… how do you repair a stanchion on a fibreglass boat? More
We loved this fun video made by Peter Brown documenting his first time forming and turning something made from epoxy. In the video, Peter shows how he created an epoxy bowl made from epoxy and old wires which were lying around his house. You can find lots more instructional videos on our you tube channel. More
When boatbuilding duo Tim Loftus and Dan Johnson decided to build a dinghy for the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show, they never expected it to win an award. However, this “cute little boat with a jolly countenance” impressed the judges so much, it won the show’s coveted Concours d’Elegance. We speak to Tim to discover how ... The Flying 10: the lovable dinghy with a prize-winning finish More
We found yet again another useful video made by Andy Miller, teaching you how to give teak a professional wood finish. This easy to follow two-part series walks you through each stage step-by-step – the first part, linked here, begins by running through the materials you’ll need and how to use epoxy to prepare the ... Varnish like a pro! More
What another fantastic RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show! The event was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with our customers, from up-and-coming sailors doing repairs on their boats to large boatyards adopting the latest epoxy infusion techniques. Between meetings, we also got to see some of the best dinghies coming out of the UK ... Photo report: The best of RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show, 2017 More
Many of the boatbuilders featured in epoxycraft talk about using peel ply in their builds. But what is it and why is it so great? We ask our resident expert Hamish Cook to explain what it is, the benefits it offers and how best to use it. Peel ply is often talked about by boat ... We asked Hamish: tell us about using peel ply? More
When Petros Dracopoulos started working for marine distributor Delos, he was “the kid that had to do everything”. Some 15 years later, however, he became Managing Director. Here, he tells us how his family business in Greece has gone from strength to strength over the years – and how the products they sell are trusted ... All about: Delos S.A. More
The south east of the UK is home to, arguably, the most innovative hydrofoiling experiment in recent years: the Vampire Project. Through years of hard work and meticulous design, a team comprising of arguably the best in the business, is perfecting a pioneering foiling catamaran that’s really pushing boundaries. We speak to boatbuilder Graham Eeles ... The Vampire: the ultimate foiling experiment More
Get creative with epoxy! We found this fun video made by Linn in the USA showing you how to make these funky personalised knives at home. These could be a great addition to your knife collection or even be used as gifts – Linn teaches you how to customise them so you can choose exactly ... Personalising knives with epoxy More
Maybe you’ve thought about using epoxy products for a project but heard a rumour they’re not good enough in some way? In part one of this myth-busting series our very own Guru of the Gooey Stuff, David Johnson, ‘cures’ a few myths about epoxy resin. Myth 1: Epoxy doesn’t stick to polyester I hear this ... 10 myths about epoxy: cured! More
Check out this great little post from boating enthusiasts Dave and Angi in Ontario, Canada. The pair have documented their experience of building a new rudder for their boat, Dickerson 32 Aft Cockpit Ketch, originally purchased in 1999. Complete with photos, you can really get a good idea of the process here. Read the whole ... Building a new rudder for a ketch More
If you’re new to the world of epoxy and want to learn from the very basics, we have the perfect blog for you. This great guide walks you through everything you need to know about using WEST SYSTEM products – from the types of applications it can be used for, to the various curing stages. ... Back to Basics With WEST SYSTEM Epoxy® More
The story of the IT worker who made his own penny floor went viral recently – and it’s easy to see why. With a load of copper pennies, some epoxy and just a little patience, you can create a stunning bespoke floor covering that really won’t cost you the earth. Here, we talk you through ... How to make a penny floor More
What do you get if you cross an architect, a boat-builder and a cabinetmaker? You get Marco Casavecchia, who builds a variety of exquisite wooden items from his studio in Susa, Italy. Here, he talks to us about a recent project: a stunning wooden bathtub. How did the project come about? A customer approached me ... A bath tub… with a difference More
WEST SYSTEM® epoxy is renowned for its clear finish. However, what if you just want to add a splash of colour to your epoxy? In this month’s ‘Ask Hamish’, he explains how to bring the colours of the rainbow to your next epoxy project. If you look at the range of WEST SYSTEM pigments available, ... We asked Hamish: can you colour epoxy? More
If a motor racing legend asks you to build him the ultimate performance cruising cat, you pull out all the stops. Australian shipwright Julian Griffiths tells us how he’s satisfying Tony Longhurst’s need for speed with Kator, the first-of-its-kind G-Force 2000 Speciale – built with a little help from WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products. “When Tony ... Kator: The cruising cat with a need for speed More
Before joining the West System International team, Area Sales Manager Gary Thompson honed his boat building skills and epoxy knowledge with a course at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy. Here, Gary proudly recounts the building of his Herreshoff Haven daysailer. How did the project come about? I was keen to top-up my wood working ... Building a Haven with a modern foam and epoxy hull More
§We loved this entertaining two-part blog from carbon fibre enthusiast Paul Carpenter. Paul, who is also a huge fan of the Oakley brand, decided to try and replicate a pair of their sunglasses using carbon fibre fabric from eBay and our very own WEST SYSTEM epoxy – and the result was fab! Paul’s blog relays ... Recreating Oakley sunglasses using carbon fibre More
Here at Epoxycraft, we spend most of our time explaining how to use epoxy with wood and plastics. But what about metals…will it stick to them? Yes it most definitely will, says our technical expert Hamish Cook – as long as you prepare the metal in the right way. I often get asked if it’s ... We asked Hamish: can you use epoxy with metals? More
To his customers in Croatia, he’s known simply as “WEST SYSTEM man”. We talk to Yacht Center Adriatic Managing Director Tomislav Gjurinski about his proud association with the WEST SYSTEM® brand and why providing top-rate knowledge and support goes hand in hand with supplying the best products. It’s over 10 years now since I started ... All about: Yacht Center Adriatic More
Whatever the project you’re working on, you’ll need several coats of epoxy resin and hardener. Most projects need between two and four. However many coats you’re planning on, you need to recoat at the right time and in the right way and ensure your surface is properly prepared. How you prepare a surface for recoating ... 3 ways to prepare a surface for recoating in epoxy More
The Shipyard and Marina in Betina, Croatia has been building boats for a staggering 270 years. It is one of the last bastions of traditional wooden shipbuilding on the Croatian Adriatic coast – but they’re still keen to move with the times. Here, Technical Director Joško Radić tells us about his team’s modern take on ... An historic fishing boat for the 21st century More
A little while ago, we told you all about our very own Richard’s hobby of building and flying model airplanes. In this article, our technical expert Hamish Cook shares his passion for archery – and talks us through how he built a traditional flatbow in bamboo and epoxy. The flatbow is the most traditional and ... How to build a bamboo archery bow More
We found this great blog, written by Ted from the Roarockit Skateboard Company, demonstrating a step by step process of how to apply carbon fibre to the top and bottom of a skateboard desk for a smooth, stylish finish. The blog even contains nice clear photos documenting each stage of Ted’s project, so you can ... Applying Carbon Fibre to a skateboard deck More
Wooden slabs are rapidly becoming the popular choice amongst home owners and interior designers to create beautiful and unique pieces of furniture – and even works of art. We came across this really useful blog showing how you can turn live edge-slabs, slabs with uneven surfaces or even slabs with deep holes in them, into ... Finishing a live edge wooden slab using epoxy More