Quote:
Originally Posted by roadtrip07
i've heard a but about west systems epoxy....does this stuff work? how do i use it, and what exactly is it supposed to do? thanks...
|
"WEST" stands for Wood Epoxy Saturation Technique. It is a registered trade mark of the Gougeon Brothers, Inc., Bay City, Michigan. WEST (and any other brand epoxy) comes as two plastic bottles of syrupy liquid. One is the resin, and the other is a hardener. If these two liquids are mixed together in the correct proportions, the mixture will set hard within a few minutes or hours, dependant on air temperature. It is used to build and repair wooden structures, particularly boats. It can be used as a varnish, and a variety of filler powders can be added to the liquids to create thicker glues or fillers.In an Airstream, it can be used to restore the strength of partly rotted wood or plywood. The mixed fluids (usually thinned with a solvent for extra penetration), are injected with a syringe into a series of small holes, drilled part way into the weakened (dry) timber. One brand formulated for this purpose is called "Git-Rot". Epoxy resin is a wonderful material, but like any material, it has its limitations. It is weakened by ultra-violet light, so epoxy varnish should be protected by a top coat of polyeurathene varnish. Epoxies will soften if heat is applied, e.g a soldering iron. This stuff really works, but you need to study the procedure manuals to get the best out of it. Nick.