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Re: Strip: Epoxy trouble
By:Malcolm Schweizer
Date: 2/7/2010, 4:36 am
In Response To: Strip: Epoxy trouble (Clay)

Good day Clay,

I have had two instances of milkiness. One happened as I applied the epoxy and it turned out to be contaminated resin- water in the resin. The second happened just recently and I blame the cloth. I bought from a local supplier at the boatyard and I believe the cloth may have not been compatable with clear applications. I used the exact same resin and a different cloth for the deck with no problems.

Here is the good news: For both instances I did find that sanding down to the fiberglass very carefully did help the situation. I used 120 at first, then worked my way up to 400, being very very careful, and then a quick topping with 800 grit using light hand pressure with the 400 and 800. Since for the second situation the problem was actually within the cloth (did a test strip where I sanded down to the cloth and still it had milkiness) I actually sanded until I abraded a very thin part of the cloth. NOTE: This will weaken the cloth, but in my situation they sold me 9 ounce cloth and told me it was 6 ounce. I had a lot of room to spare and still have plenty of strength on the hull. You have to be very careful here, but what I did was abrade just a little tiny bit of the top of the weave. Someone told me that using finer paper will help it wet back out clear.

Well that worked. It wetted out clear except in a few spots if you look at the right angle you can still see a little milkiness that appears to be deep within the weave. I am willing to bet if you try sanding to the weave it will at least be much improved.

Good luck!

Messages In This Thread

Strip: Epoxy trouble
Clay -- 2/6/2010, 12:53 pm
Re: Strip: Epoxy trouble
Malcolm Schweizer -- 2/7/2010, 4:36 am
Re: Strip: Epoxy trouble
Rod Tait -- 2/6/2010, 8:37 pm
Was it strored outside in the sun?
Brian Nystrom -- 2/6/2010, 7:55 pm
Re: Was it strored outside in the sun?
Clay -- 2/7/2010, 1:26 pm
Re: Was it strored outside in the sun?
Bill Hamm -- 2/8/2010, 12:29 am
Re: Strip: Epoxy trouble
Mike Bielski -- 2/6/2010, 2:56 pm