ORIGINAL: rude777
My question is: Is there anything besides thinned epoxy to seal the inside with ?? Something new, easyer, cheaper, or LIGHTER ?? I plan to use thinned epoxy on the outside, but is fiberglass reinforcement really needed on the outside?? This will be just a play boat spending most of is time as a shelf queen, but I'd still like to build it the best, stongest, lightest way that I can.
Hi Paul!
Rude777 is looking for a way to make his sealing job lighter. The goal is to not use slow set epoxy and let it sink into the wood as deep as possible. This is what adds excess weight. Hair spray is mostly laquer, and this is what forms the barrier coat which slows the speed inwhich the epoxy sets into the wood.
Hair spray has the advantage over pure laquer due to it being somewhat soluble when dry...that is what lets it wash out of people's hair. After the epoxy sits on top of the hair spray, and before it cures...it does have a chance to get past the hair spray and absorb into the pores like normal.
What you are trying to achive is to have the epoxy sit on top the wood as much as possible. It still is going to soak in, but the hair spray will impede that to an extent, so
the quanity needed for it to roll out is less. It will have a tendency to stay on top longer so you are able to spread it out thinnner...it does not soak in deep as you are brushing.
This is also used by aircraft builders when they are fiberglassing over their wood. The goal is for the epoxy to skin the wood, not to saturate it. It still is going to adhere as strong as epoxy would.
If you ask around, you might be able to find an old timer thats been around it a lot that remembers this.
Rude777 about the hardware question you had for me, I have a combination of Speedmaster and CB Marine gear that I copy and machine myself.
The engine mount is Marine Specialties. Good stuff if you like lightness and dont mind cast, not machined. He caters mostly to the gas guys, but does some smaller nitro gear.