Avoiding ‘orange peel’ effect You’ve applied a fresh coat of resin and hardener mix, and the coat seems to have fish-eyed into a series of tiny craters. What has caused this, and how do you prevent it from happening again? “The piece of wood in the photo is typical of what can happen when it ... Ask Hamish- Avoiding ‘orange peel’ effect More
Part 2: Applying the skin In a remarkable project that combines traditional boatbuilding skills with modern techniques, a Croatian Gajetareceives its primary wooden framework, cut by computer and bonded with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. With the plywood formers for the 7m (21ft) fishing boat assembled at the Betina Shipyard in Croatia (see part 1) the task of ... Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 2 More
Based in West Yorkshire, Winder Boats builds high performance racing dinghies and foils using PRO-SET epoxy. The key to success was finding the right product and – literally – sticking with it. Anyone who has sailed a Merlin Rocket or Fireball dinghy knows the exhilaration they give from close racing in a stiff breeze and ... Two products for top performance More
Part 1: Design and lofting When naval architect Srdan Dakovic was recruited to combine traditional wooden boatbuilding with modern technology, he designed a Croatian gajeta to be cut by CNC and bonded entirely with WEST SYSTEM epoxy. From 3D concept to hand-built reality. The completed gajeta takes part in the annual regatta, and – as ... Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 1 More
The beautifully-built Ocean Explorer 72 catamaran has the ability to run silently on electric propulsion recharged from renewables. Part of the secret is the composite structure using PRO-SET® epoxy, which makes the yacht light, strong and easily driven. Built in Finland by Ocean Quality Systems (OQS) Ltd, the Ocean Explorer catamaran range has been designed by the celebrated ... Building on renewables More
Boat builder Abdul Hakeem has created this stunning 70-foot yacht from wooden laminates and equipped her like a superyacht. Epoxycraft is always delighted to hear from its global community of dealers and customers, and when we received an email from Abdul Hakeem of Sulkha Shipyard in India, we were greatly impressed with his new build ... Building a Bruce Roberts in India More
If you’re looking to hone your epoxy skills or pick up tips and tricks, then West System International‘s hands-on epoxy workshops are a great place to start. The date for the next workshop is 10th January 2019, so book your place now. The workshops are hosted by West System International’s Technical Support team to share ... Learn from the best – West System International course date announced More
WEST SYSTEM® 402 MILLED GLASS FIBRE BLEND (Type: Blended adhesive filler. Product No: 402) 402 is a unique blend of powder and strands. What is it? WEST SYSTEM 402 Milled Glass Fibre Blend is a mix of individual strands of chopped glass evenly dispersed in a powder base made up of other fillers. This combination creates ... Additive of the Month – September 2018 More
Whilst Epoxycraft was visiting the Cannes Boat Show this year we saw Hawksley Classic’s beautiful motorboat in pride of place by the main VIP and press entrance and we just had to bring you these shots. In 2016, Simon set up his custom boat building company in the UK’s West Country (apt, as they use ... British style turns heads on the French Riviera More
Reaching her magnificent prime in her mid-thirties, Double Thyme’s beauty regime is managed by owner Chris Eager and there’re no prizes for guessing where that outer glow comes from – WEST SYSTEM epoxy products. “We bought Double Thyme in 2010,” Chris says from a wet and windy August day in Oban. “And we’ve been working ... Putting the Thyme in More
HIGH-DENSITY FILLER (Type: Finely milled adhesive filler. Product No: 404) What is it? Originally designed to fix wooden blades to a wind turbine hub, 404 High-Density Filler is a very fine powder used for bonding hardware into substrates. When mixed with WEST SYSTEM epoxy, the cured material is highly resistant to compression and intense ... Additive of the Month – October 2018 More
David Grey is now in the engineering stages of his home build of a 5.8m barrel-back American-designed Glen-L runabout , but – as he laments on his blog – why does everything take so long? The timetable also took a knock when David had an accident with a bandsaw. A very slight misalignment with the ... Grey Falcon Update More
The Spirit 52D has combined traditional timber, carbon fibre and PRO-SET epoxy to make a high-performance head turner. Building in wood is enjoying a huge resurgence due to the ability to make stunning one-offs and the 52D from UK-based Spirit Yachts is a classic example – classic being the operative word. Spirit Yachts draws its ... Spirit Yachts – The ultimate racing machine? More
Boatbuilder Paul Gomm, a regular user of WEST SYSTEM epoxy, has been doing some great repair work on 2.4m Class Stradivari Mk IV. We were lucky enough to see the repair as it progressed. The boat has a fibreglass keel, which had suffered a form of osmotic damage through a combination of water and anti-freeze. ... Getting a 2.4m Stradivari Mk IV back racing More
She’s looking good! Work on this historic vessel is now nearing completion, with a small team of volunteers giving up their free time to turn what was a gutted wreck into a yacht that is now in even better condition than when she was new! On Epoxycraft’s last visit on Friday 13th July 2018, we saw ... Lively Lady update: Re-decked and painted More
How to make a wood fillet using this adhesive filler. What is it? A fillet is a coved shaped bead of thickened epoxy that bonds to the outside of two surfaces to lock them together. Being an external bond, rather than hidden behind the wood, a fillet has to look good, so WEST SYSTEM 405 Filleting ... Additive of the Month 405 Filleting Blend, perfect for making a wood fillet More
After an extensive refit, the iconic sailing yacht Lively Lady will be sailed back to her berth at Port Solent Marina, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, at around 1500h on Saturday 28th July 2018. Hundreds of well-wishers are expected to attend the event, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Alec Roses’s triumphant homecoming after his 1968 circumnavigation. ... Lively lady to arrive at Port Solent this Saturday! More
We asked David Johnson, Sales Director at West System International, technical expert and sometime yachtsman (that last one is his own description!), what WEST SYSTEM® products he would consider to be dinghy park essentials. That is those products that you should have with you in the dinghy park this summer, whether you’re away for a weekend ... Dinghy Park essentials More
The technical team are always happy to give advice about any epoxy project over the phone, or in person, and they love seeing the remarkable uses customers have for epoxy. So, how do you coat a Victorian wooden basin? When carpenter Joe Fancy arrived at the West System International’s HQ in Romsey in July, he bought with ... All in a day’s work More
PART 1: STRIPPING AND PREPARATION If your teak deck is looking a bit thin and tired, or is lifting away from its substrate, or maybe if you just want a new design, now might be the time to start planning its replacement. A key ally in the process will be WEST SYSTEM® and PRO-SET® products. ... The secrets to renewing teak deck More
Tucked away within a modern furniture factory near Tallinn, Estonia, a small company is building beautiful new boats in wood whilst also restoring some classics from the 60’s. The first 10-metre sailing yacht was being made using WEST SYSTEM epoxy to bond the mahogany veneers. Built to plans from the Dutch naval architects Hoek Design, ... Swiss Performance Yachts More
WEST SYSTEM product Technical Advisor Hamish Cook guides us through the range of additives available to enhance your epoxy project. Describing how to choose and use each one, Hamish provides the technical groups’ special hints and tips for a first-class result. “Fillers are used to thicken the basic resin/hardener mixture for specific applications,” Hamish says. ... Additive of the month More
Hamish, one of West System Technical Team, has a solution for those times when accurate application of epoxy to make a repair on a small surface is key – trim your bristles! Here he explains how to adapt your brush for a delicate repair. “WEST SYSTEM 803 Glue Brushes have one inch bristles which are excellent for priming fillet joints, ... How to adapt your glue brush for a delicate repair on a small surface More
The best way to make a cruising yacht with a performance ‘far above normal’ is to use multiple hulls infused with West System International’s PRO-SET epoxy. Then use composites to create an equally light rig and interior. Fit an electric motor for green propulsion and the result is Jan Andersen’s awesome Black Marlin. Black Marlin ... Black Marlin – Jan Andersen’s 10m carbon-fibre trimaran More
If you’ve created a work of art, you want to make sure it stands the test of time. Wood Carver, Robert Lawrence uses WEST SYSTEM® epoxy resin on wood to make sure his pieces will carry-on living. “I’m mad keen on sailing my Drascombe Scaffie,” Robert Lawrence says from his home minutes from the North Sea. ... Figuring out a solution More
The summer months are a good time to restore weathered wooden fittings and trims. The long evenings allow them to be stripped, prepared and primed with WEST SYSTEM 105 Epoxy Resin with 207 Special Coating Hardener for a rich, deep gloss. Before and after: This 50-year-old wooden pedestal and travel horse assembly was stripped back ... Dead wood? Bring out the gloss! More
How to use boatbuilding skills to fix a lorry! HF Marin AB is our distributor of WEST SYSTEM® products in Sweden, but in addition to supplying a wide range of boatbuilders, HF Marin also provides epoxy to a leading truck repair workshop. When a lorry was brought in with side panel damage, the workshop thought ... News from our distributors More
The UK’s pioneering rocket company Starchaser has been working since 1992 to put the man in the street into low earth orbit. We asked Starchaser’s founder Steve Bennett for an update on progress. “We know that 7 out of 10 people when asked say that they would love to take a trip into space,” said ... Chasing the stars: a progress update from pioneering rocket company Starchaser More
When a lifetime’s passion for trains, seven grandchildren and a grand-plan for a garden railway come together, Steve Vick railway creator, advises Wessex Resins & Adhesives always has an answer. As the managing director of his own company, Steve Vick International Ltd., making old gas mains safe for modern use, Steve Vick is used to ... Gauging the situation More
Soon to be celebrating the creation of their 100th Exocet Moth, the team at Hampshire-based Maguire Boats are flushed with the success of recent racing results. Maguire-built boats took all 17 of the top positions from a fleet of 45 entrants at the Moth Worlds in Bermuda earlier this year and this winning streak seems ... PRO-SET laminated Maguire Exocets take all 17 top positions in the recent Moth World Championships More
The JEC Composites show in Paris was packed with exciting applications for lightweight composites. So whether you want a carbon-fibre drone, a surfboard with hydrofoils, or a solar-powered car, you’ll find one at the show. The annual JEC World show at the Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition centre runs for three days in early March and is ... A world of innovation More
Wessex Resins and Adhesives has achieved the transition to the latest Quality Management System and the Company is now certified to BS EN ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001:2015 certification demonstrates the Company’s commitment to achieving its vision to be a leader in its chosen markets whilst providing extraordinary customer support at all times. Our customers can ... Wessex Resins and Adhesives LTD achieves the transition to BS EN ISO 9001:2015 More
Oarsome Chance is a ground-breaking new charity bringing about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. As part of their work, the charity is developing the OC 24 skiff – a purpose-built boat designed for them by Paul Fisher for the young people ... Helping give young people an Oarsome Chance More
Many older boats are made using plywood and this can deteriorate with age, especially if rainwater has been able to penetrate the paint layers. WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy will repair and preserve the wood for many years to come. PREPARATION AND REPAIRS The cabin on my ferro-cement boat was made from 1 inch (25mm) marine plywood back ... Protecting bare plywood with epoxy More
Products from West System International and expertise from the UK-based technical team have been donated to a charity attempting to revive a piece of sailing history, the 36ft sailing yacht Lively Lady. One of the UK’s most iconic sailing yachts is undergoing a major restoration with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy playing a key role in preserving ... WSI supports the restoration of Lively Lady More
This project was a “bucket list” idea that I have wanted to make real for some years. I am a fit 76 year old and despite difficulties along the way, the task has been engaging and worthwhile. I am a competent woodworker but I have never previously built a boat. Before I outline some aspects of the job, ... Building a 9’ Stornoway Rowing Boat by Leon Spender More
A step-by-step demonstration of how to make a Canadian canoe using vacuum infusion with PRO SET epoxy, presented by West System International. More
When former aviation engineer James Newman began experimenting with PRO-SET epoxy for creating custom carbon-fibre components, he didn’t realise it would lead to a whole new career path. The PRO-SET epoxy range has been developed to create incredibly lightweight but strong component parts, especially by infusion. This is why you will find PRO-SET epoxy used ... From concorde to formula 1 – J-TEC Composites on the challenges of making performance parts in carbon More
Experiment with cedar strip canoe building with this 1:12 scale model from Bear Mountain Boats The cedar strip method of boat building allows for the creation of some truly beautiful canoes and kayaks. This comes not just from the natural colours of the epoxy-coated wood, but also from the way the thin planks can be ... Build small whilst thinking big More
Meet the West System International team on stand C42 (Great Hall) at the RYA Dinghy Show (3-4 March 2018). Pick up tips on repairing your dinghy after a ding! Find out what products you should have with you at race events to keep you on the water and racing. Watch live demonstrations at 12:00 and ... RYA Dinghy Show – see WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy Products in action More
Talented sculptor Mike Watkins makes these remarkable studies of British birds out of modelling clay and installs them on an assortment of background materials, sourced from their usual habitat. Each sculpture is assembled using WEST SYSTEM G5 five-minute epoxy which Mike uses to bond various elements of the sculpture together, including the complex supports and ... British Birds by Mike Watkins More
THE IDEAL GLOVES Latex (white glove) is giving ground to Nitrile (blue glove) as the safety glove of choice for epoxy work. Epoxy and polyester resins can cause a dermatological reaction in some people, which is why West System International always recommends wearing gloves to prevent skin contact when working with epoxy products. In the ... Epoxy Tips – The Ideal Gloves More
PRIMING THE PUMPS The resin pumps simply drop into the containers via the filler cap and are screwed into place. The draw tubes are matched to the size of container, so they just clear the bottom. Make sure you have the pump set for the right pack so a 301B, for example, would fit a ... Epoxy Tips – Priming The Pumps More
EXACT MIXING RATIOS Pumps make measuring the correct ratios of resin to hardener very easy. Make sure you have the right pump for the container – these are 301A for the A pack size (1kg of WEST SYSTEM 105 epoxy resin with 0.2kg of 205 Fast or 206 Slow hardener) and 301B for the B ... Epoxy Tips – Exact Mixing Ratios More
PERFECT OVERHEAD FILLETS A fillet is a gutter-shaped bead of thickened epoxy that very effectively holds two pieces of rigid material together, most typically plywood strips. It is one of the most useful types of epoxy bonding techniques for making strong and attractive joins. When attempting to apply fillets on the underside of a boat’s ... Epoxy Tips – Perfect Overhead Fillets More
WEST SYSTEM hosts workshops for both amateurs and professionals. We offer advice to members of the public about the use of epoxy for boat building, repair and maintenance as well as constructing composites structures. We show participants a range of expert techniques for administering the epoxy so that they are more confident using our products ... WEST SYSTEM workshops More