Thanks Scott.

Believe it or not, I do a 3-4 hour lay-up using 105/206 (20 minute pot life). I typically mix 8-10 batches of epoxy per fuselage. One for the filler per side, then one plain for the 1.4 ounce and the 6 ounce layer. This is sometimes just barely enough for a full wet out and I have to mix another ounce. Then I do the other side. I then mix an ounce and put the doublers in. Then comes the big tedious trim. I do the parts that are flush with curved toenail trimming scissors. Then I mix two one ounce batches. One gets filler and goes in a syringe. The other is used to wet the overlapping tabs and recipient sides. Then I join the halves. I have to really hustle and there is no time for interruptions. But I put it in the hot box and 12 hours later I can pull it out. I do like using 105/209 for the much more relaxed time (50 minute pot life), but then I have to cook it for 36 to 48 hours before I feel comfortable pulling it out of the molds. In the winter I keep the shop at 65 degrees. That buys me more pot life and a lot more thin film time. 105/206 is a real challenge in the Summer unless I really crank the A/C down. Sometimes I run out of time and don't get my syringes cleaned out while the filler is not too hard for acetone to break it down. Then I have to clean them after it has hardened which is about a minute a piece job.

I would like to go to another epoxy system, but WEST works every time as long as you match the resin pump count to the hardener pump count. When I can get a dispenser or two I will try a new system.

Another thing is that WEST is available in Charlotte as well as most reasonable sized cities at boat shops. They will have 105 resin and 205 and 206 hardener on the shelves. Unfortunately they usually don't have 207 or 209.

I like the flexibility. I just got through glassing one side of a Quickie fuselage and one side of the tail surfaces with 105/207. It is in the hot box and I could probably add another side by bedtime. 207 sands really nicely. I haven't found much use for 205. It's to short of a pot life (12 minutes) to do much and then it takes 4 hours until you can handle it.

Of course 207 and 209 are expensive at $50+ for the matching size for a gallon of resin.

I make my surface coating resin for molds from 105/209 and let it cure outside of the hotbox. That way I don't get any bubbles. Then as I lay up layers on the mold after a few layers I start putting it in the hot box. So by the time the mold is finished, the 105/209 is Shore D hardness and the mold is ready.