RCU Forums - Thicken Epoxy?

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- - Thicken Epoxy? (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/beginners-85/11270939-thicken-epoxy.html)

drube

10-21-2012 01:39 PM

Thicken Epoxy?

Hi Guys, I'm looking for something to thicken up epoxy so it doesn't run,more like a paste/filler. I've read that microballoons makes the epoxy weak so what else can I use? I read about a product called Cabosil but can't find it locally.

Thanks

acerc

10-21-2012 02:19 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Fiberglass such as Greatplanes Pro milled glass will thicken it up. But any additive will also speed the cure time. I personally like System Three's Gelmajik. It is an epoxy that when mixed is a gel. Wherever you put it-it stay's.

drube

10-21-2012 05:27 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Will the milled glass stop it from running?

acerc

10-21-2012 05:35 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Not totally.

da Rock

10-21-2012 05:53 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

West Systems sells a Silica additive. It's labelled as an Adhesive Filler. You use it just like microballoons. It is supposed to make the epoxy itself stronger than microballoons.

Nothing I've ever used completely stops epoxy from seeping a little bit out around the edges. I've mixed the silica into the epoxy until I had a paste and packed it. There was still some epoxy that'd separated out around the edges. I simply turned the fuselage upside down and it migrated back. Checked about the same amount of time later and didn't see any.

The silica definitely shortens the pot life. That makes it easier to keep from running.

carrellh

10-21-2012 05:53 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

http://www.epogrip.com has paste epoxy

drube

10-21-2012 06:04 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Thanks guys, The West system sounds like what I need. Do you have a link to the Additive daRock?

drube

10-21-2012 06:47 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

I found it Thanks again! http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif

Charlie P.

10-21-2012 07:10 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Colloidal silica is best.

If you have a table saw take a scoop of the sawdust from under the table. Works great as a filler additive.

If you want more info, read the link.

http://www.systemthree.com/reslibrar...Epoxy_Book.pdf

frequent flyer

10-21-2012 07:14 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Cabosil is all you need to thicken epoxy or resin.

drube

10-21-2012 08:08 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

I tried to find Cabosil locally with no luck, but the west systems stuff I can find here at west marine.
Charlie,thanks for the link. Lots of info there.

Rotten40851

10-22-2012 05:21 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Try www.mudhole.com they sell paste epoxy, it's what we use on hand wrappedFishing Rods.

Rotten40851

10-22-2012 05:22 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

I believe they are in Florida as well

MTK	10-22-2012 05:43 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: drube

I tried to find Cabosil locally with no luck, but the west systems stuff I can find here at west marine.
Charlie,thanks for the link. Lots of info there.

DRUBE,

Look up "FUMEDSILICA" on the internet. You should get 100's of hits which will include Cabosil and a bunch of other trade names. Fumed silica is an excellent thickener, possibly the best. Fumed silica is extremely lightweight and fluffy and it should be mixed in a container with somewhat tall sides to keep it all together

Another approach for your project is to use JB-Weld. It is ready thickened as it comes from the tube. Good luck

Sport_Pilot

10-22-2012 06:53 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Quote:

I've read that microballoons makes the epoxy weak so what else can I use?

Is this for balsa and wood? If so then the bond is stronger thant the wood even with the microballons. That is unless you use to much microballons, but that would be true of any filler.

If for fiberglass and other composits, it depends on what you are using it for.

drube

10-22-2012 09:33 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Thanks guys.
It's for a fiberglass fuse and light ply formers.

I picked up some West System 406 Colloidal silica adhesive filler. Will try it this eve.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif

[email protected]

10-22-2012 10:40 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

IVE BEEN USEING BABY POWDER FOR YEARS NOW WORKS GOOD

SCALECRAFT

10-22-2012 10:52 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

What ever you use, wear a good quality respirator.

Steve

GerKonig

10-22-2012 11:34 AM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: SCALECRAFT

What ever you use, wear a good quality respirator.

Steve

That is true, one can easily change a lot of things in life, lungs is not one of them...

Gerry

MTK	10-22-2012 01:02 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: SCALECRAFT

What ever you use, wear a good quality respirator.

Steve

For fumed silica?? A respirator is something you want to use for volatile solvent based materials like paints and such.

A simple dust mask will work fine for dusts like carbon, silica, micro balloons and milled glass. Plus it's not like one is going to use this stuff by the pound. A teaspoon here and there is all it will take.

Disposable gloves for working with epoxy is a good idea. But again, unless you are working with the stuff constantly and in large amounts, the vast majority of us will never have a problem with sensitization to epoxy resin. Let's use some common sense here....

There are times to truly be cautious and send that message to beginners and there are times to not do that. Not everything we do in aeromodeling is dangerous

drube

10-22-2012 01:07 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Thanks for the advice guys. Baby powder, that's the one I forgot about. I'll remember that next time.
I just got finished using the 406 adhesive filler.. That stuff is great! Just what I was looking for! Yay!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif

gordon_mcln

10-22-2012 01:10 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

CSTSALES.com sells colloidal silica used for thickening epoxy....To maintain structural integrity, do not use microballoons.

Airplanes400

10-22-2012 03:11 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Just go for the good stuff and stop playing games or cutting corners.

http://shopbvmjets.com/zencart/index...products_id=16

SCALECRAFT

10-22-2012 05:41 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: MTK

Quote:

ORIGINAL: SCALECRAFT

What ever you use, wear a good quality respirator.

Steve

With fluffed slilica I don't want to screw around. Silicosis is lung cancer from silica dust. With all the other contaminates in the air, why risk it.

The respirators' function is based on the filter element one has put in it. Not the mask. It has a far less probability to allow leakage form where it contacts the face. Plus I the fluffed silica is a very small particle. The respirator can remove extremely small particles. There is a rating I do not remember right now for particulate filtration . I use the one that removes the smallest of small particulates.

Steve

Charlie P.

10-22-2012 07:22 PM

RE: Thicken Epoxy?

I suppose if I was fiberglassing a boat (again) I would worry about resperating amounts of colloidal silica. If I am measuring out tiny amounts with a Popsicle stick to mix up a 50cc batch I wouldn't be too concerned.

Sanding it is MUCH more likely to release it into the atmosphere than mixing it in with epoxy.

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