I've never thinned epoxy for the firewall or wing saddle, just slapped the gunk on and spread accordingly. There has to be a way I can thin and brush. Sooooo, questions:

1) What ratio and %Iso Alcohol (or whatever) do you guys use?

2) What type of 'brush' do you use and once that 'brush' is used do you toss it or clean it with 'something' for reuse?

3) If you used 6/30 minute epoxy, does the curing time increase or decrease? Or for that matter, is it better to use a 6 minute or 30 minute epoxy for thinning?

Don't necessarily know if this is the best method or not, but I used 30 minute epoxy. My LHS sells epoxy brushes, 5 or 10 for a buck. They are use once and throw away. I just add 91% Isopropyl (Rubbing alcohol) until the epoxy has the consistency of warm syrup. Then brush it on. Seems to work pretty well.

Use a 50/50 mix of 30 minute epoxy and denatured alcohol. This is a pretty thin mixture. It'll brush on and dry smooth plus won't add much weight at all.


Tazz

Generally, thinning w/alcohol will increase the cure time quite a bit.

Jetts

I use 30 minute epoxy. 5 min can go off too fast. Get a cheap 1 inch or 1/2 inch brush at the hardware store and throw it away when done.

For me 50/50 is to thin I prefer 75% epoxy 25% alcohol. It applies at a good thickness and smoothes itself out very nicely.

I have had good luck with resin bought from K-Mart For boat repair . The kind with the small bottle of MEK for a hardener. It is thin enough that no further reduction is necessary. Just don't use too many drops of MEK. Use a acid brush for a one time use & throw it away. MAX H.

Just brush your epoxy on at it's normal thickness and heat it up with the heat gun you use for shrinking you covering, works great without adding contaminants in to your mixture.

AS others have said, 30 minute epoxy and alcohol.
Mix the two until you get the consistancy you want then paint it on the area.

I use 30 min epoxy and set the cup in a bowl of hot water, then brush it on. The epoxy becomes more fluid without adding anything.

The only thing to look out for is that the heat will shorten the cure time a little.

If you want your wing saddle or fire wall colored before fuel proofing use a magic marker, let dry & then epoxy . MAX H.

Max H,

Thanks for that tip. I was needing to tough up the firewall on one of my planes and was going to make a trip to the hobby store today for some black paint and a small brush. Then I saw your post, it did the trick and did not cost me a dime (nor gas) and it works. Just another way of saying that you do not have to spend a lot of money in this hobby.

That is why I come to RCU. People have great ideas and are willing to share. I would not have even thought of using a magic marker (too simple I guess).

Thanks again...