The robustness of the epoxy doesn’t solely determine the effectiveness of bonding, fairing, or fabric application. Its ability to adhere well to the applied surface also matters. If you’re bonding the epoxy to a partially cured surface, the strength of the bond depends on the epoxy’s mechanical ability to grip the surface. For the best ... A Guide to Epoxy Bonding More
Our technical staff member, Hamish Cook, has been answering various questions about epoxy. This week, we posed a question to him: ‘What exactly is an exotherm?’ Let me share with you his insightful response… Exotherm refers to the heat produced because of the interaction between a resin and hardener. The chemical reaction between the epoxy ... What is an Exotherm? More
When you’re knee-deep in a project, the bonding stage is where things start to get exciting. It’s like seeing all the puzzle pieces come together. But to make that happen, you need two key ingredients: a clean and well-prepped surface, and the right kind of glue. Now, there’s this method called ‘two-step bonding’. Why is ... How Can You Make a Joint with Two-Step Epoxy Bonding? More
Epoxy is an ideal material for creating jewellery due to its versatility, durability, and ease of handling. Its ability to be poured into moulds or used as a coating on various surfaces, coupled with its vibrant colours and resistance to wear and tear, makes epoxy a perfect choice for crafting unique and long-lasting jewellery pieces. More
How can getting the dispensing ratios wrong impact your epoxy project? Well, when you’re starting an epoxy project, the first thing you need to do is to get the right amounts of resin and hardener. It’s super important to find the right mix! The balance between the resin and hardener determines how strong and hard ... How Do You Achieve the Perfect Mix with WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy? More
Choosing the right glass cloth is the starting point for any successful boatbuilding or repair project. Make the right choice with our four key selection criteria says technical expert, Hamish Cook. How to Navigate the Wide Range of Glass Cloths? Plain weave, biaxial stitched, twill weave, satin weave. The range of glass cloths available is ... What Glass Cloth Should You Choose for Your Boatbuilding Project? More
If you need strength and adhesion in a hurry, or if you’re worried about mixing epoxy accurately or don’t have the right tools to hand, WEST SYSTEM® Six10® pre-mixed adhesive could be the trade secret you’re looking for. What Makes Six10 a Perfect Choice for Various Applications? Six10 is a two-part, pre-thickened epoxy adhesive, perfect ... Why Choose Pre-Mixed Adhesive for Quick and Quality Results? More
What are epoxy fillers? Epoxy fillers, they’re pretty important. They change the epoxy’s properties to fit what you need. Want more strength or abrasion resistance? Or maybe you need to fill some gaps? Epoxy fillers have you covered. What types of epoxy fillers are there? Whether you’re looking to enhance the strength of your epoxy, ... How To Thicken Epoxy with Fillers? More
When it comes to reinforcing and resisting abrasion, fibreglass cloth or tape is a go-to material. It’s a common sight in the construction and repair of boats, cars, and other structures that require strength and durability. This guide will walk you through the process of applying fibreglass cloth or tape with the help of WEST ... How Can You Use Fibreglass Cloth or Tape to Reinforce and Resist Abrasion? More
Not sure whether epoxy has what it takes to fix your fibreglass boat repairs? “It’s versatile, strong, reliable – and more than a match for polyester resin”, says Hamish Cook, Technical Guru at Epoxycraft. Fibreglass boats – like all boats – get damaged. It’s inevitable. Collisions and groundings cause everything from small nicks to serious ... Why Is Epoxy The Best Choice For Fibreglass Boat Repairs? More
Understanding Epoxy Resin Requirements This is a question the team at WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy get asked a lot. According to technical expert David Johnson, it’s important to have a good idea of how much epoxy resin your project is going to need before you start. You want to be sure you have enough to hand ... How Much Epoxy Resin Do I Need? More
It’s one of the most common questions: why isn’t my epoxy curing? Fortunately, when it comes to WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy products, it’s quite easy to work out precisely what’s happening. We spoke to our technical guru Hamish Cook to find out what can go wrong and how avoid it happening again. I regularly get emails ... Why Isn’t My Epoxy Curing? More
WEST SYSTEM® G/flex® 655 is a toughened epoxy that makes permanent, waterproof, structural bonds. It absorbs the stresses of expansion, contractions, shock and vibration on joins, and it now comes in an easy-to-use ready filled twin syringe for working with small quantities. Ease of Use: The handy twin syringe dispenses G/flex 655 resin and hardener ... WEST SYSTEM G/flex 655 25ml twin syringe, perfect for small quantity applications More
You may be wondering, so, why are epoxy resins important? Epoxy has played a pivotal role in the evolution of boatbuilding. It offers a shift from traditional methods to more durable and efficient techniques. What is Epoxy Resin? Epoxy resin is a two-part synthetic polymer. When mixed together, it undergoes a chemical reaction. This results ... Why Are Epoxy Resins Important? More
Have You Ever Spilled Epoxy ? Need to remove epoxy from fabrics? We’ve all been there. You’re dressed to impress, ready to leave the house, and you decide to take a quick peek at your ongoing project in the workshop. And then, disaster strikes – a drop of epoxy lands on your favourite outfit. Why ... Remove Epoxy From Your Clothes? More
Technical expert and safety fanatic David Johnson discusses the importance of establishing good safety processes when dealing with epoxy resin. Back when I first started using epoxy resin– quite some time ago – I always made sure to develop important safety habits; starting with wearing gloves. Back then, my go-to choice was the cheap and disposable ... Safety first when using epoxy resin: gloves and goggles More
No matter how long you’ve been using epoxy, it’s always worth revisiting the basics to make sure you’re getting them just right. This Trade Secret will provide you with tips and tricks behind dispensing, mixing and adding epoxy filler to minimise waste and get the best results. At epoxycraft, we’ve given readers the chance to learn a ... Back to basics: dispensing, mixing and adding an epoxy filler More
Amine blush is a waxy bi-product that appears as epoxy cures. It can prevent varnishes and other coatings from bonding. But, as David Johnson explains, there are simple steps you can take to avoid blush becoming a problem. What is amine blush? As epoxy cures in contact with moisture, a greasy or waxy film known ... Amine blush when working with epoxy: What you need to know More
By keeping these simple ideas in mind, you can make your work with epoxy resin as straightforward and reliable as possible. Prepare to succeed Before you begin using any WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products, ensure your workshop is clean, dry and free from dust. The ideal temperature is 20-22°C, which means you should feel comfortable wearing a ... Four expert tips to use epoxy resin effectively More
By keeping these four kitchen cupboard favourites in mind, you’ll ensure your thickened epoxy is the right consistency, every time. Thickened epoxy – a mix of resin and hardener with filler added – has a huge range of uses. By varying the amount of filler you use, you can alter the consistency of the epoxy ... What have peanut butter, ketchup, syrup and mayonnaise got to do with epoxy resin? More
How can you safely dispose of epoxy? Getting rid of PRO-SET® and WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy is straightforward if you follow these simple guidelines (and if you waste as little as possible in the first place…) How can you minimise epoxy waste? Not having to dispose of epoxy is easier than having to dispose of epoxy – ... How Can You Safely Dispose Of Epoxy? More