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, ... More
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 ... 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 ... 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. “Why isn’t my WEST ... More
Got a lot of epoxy filleting to do? Or quite a few holes to fill? You might want to think about using a piping bag. It’s quick, clean and easy – and below, we explain exactly how to do it. Whenever we go along to trade shows and boat shows, we typically demonstrate how to ... More
It’s very important to dispose of unwanted epoxy safely. Fortunately, disposing of PRO-SET®, WEST SYSTEM® epoxy and Entropy Resins® is easy if you follow our advice. We recently heard from a customer who had tried to flush some uncured epoxy down the toilet. However, it didn’t flush away and instead stuck to the bottom of ... More
We’ve all had those times when we only needed a little bit of epoxy. Maybe to fill in a chip, fix something that’s broken in the house or to glue something small together. How do you mix a small amount, properly? West System International’s very own technical advisor, Hamish Cook, explains all. I’ve had a ... More
WEST SYSTEM Epoxy is a very versatile system. Experienced customers know that by understanding the fundamental characteristics of WEST SYSTEM fillers, hardeners and additives, they can combine and use them in unique ways for their specific application. Here, we guide you through the method for mixing G/flex® epoxy with other WEST SYSTEM epoxies. For years, experienced users have been blending the various products ... More
It has probably happened to us all once or twice. You’re all dressed up and just before going out the door you swing through your workshop to check on the project. Sure enough, a dab of epoxy finds its way onto your best trousers. Believe me, it has happened to me plenty of times. My ... More
Are you used to standing in a dust cloud when you mix lightweight filler into your epoxy? There’s a handy technique to avoid that. David Johnson tells all. I have to be honest – no-one ever asks us how to go about mixing a filler into epoxy. In fact, I wondered briefly if it was ... More
How to thin epoxy and what to consider before you do Reducing the viscosity of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy by adding a solvent can make it easier to apply, as well as penetrating deeper into porous surfaces such as partially rotten wood and saturating faster into fibreglass fabric. For these reasons, many people are attracted to ... More
In the days of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’, there is always a way to minimise your leftovers. David Johnson uses his epoxy experience to offer his top tips on working with these disposable consumables. As the saying goes, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. When it comes to epoxy, you have ... More