Before ordering West System, I ask for some clarifications

[Éric Bouvéron]

Bonjour,

I am now on the way to order the resin, and found West System in Shenzhen,China.

I am on for a Tiki 21, and, if some have experience in the building of this model:

1-Are quantities indicated in instructions correct (no need to order more of a particular item?)
2-It is asked for : 406A 0.275 kg Colloidal Silica and 409B 4.5kg Microspheres (for fillets) OR
407B 3.5kg Low Density Filler (for fillets).
Is the reference 407B replaces both 406A and 409B or only 409B?
3-For the glass tape, it calls for "732A 10 m Glass tape, 100mm wide". I read somewhere about biaxial tape, is the tape provided under this reference is the one?

If you builders have suggestions about the Epoxy, Filler and glasscloth section of the Tiki21, I am interrested in. (Only I go for West System product for the resin)

Many thanks again,

Éric

[wakataitea]

west is the best..

[Éric Bouvéron]

Bonjour Waka,
Well, may be, but for me it is especially, since I have never used epoxy, since I live in China, since Wharram indicates all the necesssary references and what to mix with, since I am not that smart and since I have found a West System distributor in my area, it is the more practical way to go. There are many epoxy makers or resellers there, but some seem to understand their products as much as I understand the European economuy. So West System it will be. Question is how much...
Thanks again,
Éric

[Ian Bamsey]

You might want to clarify the following:

"2-It is asked for : 406A 0.275 kg Colloidal Silica and 409B 4.5kg Microspheres (for fillets) OR
407B 3.5kg Low Density Filler (for fillets)."

My understanding is that microspheres are used to make fillers no for fillets, for which you use fumed silica or similar?

[Blanc Jean-Paul]

Hello

don't be affraid. Using epoxy is easy. The only challenge is to strictly dosing between resin and harder. For charges read for what he is using and test by yourself  the quantity.  See to my page in my blog archiprog.blogspot.com 

ne soit pas effrayé.  Utiliser l'epoxy est facile.  Le seul défi est de doser le plus strictement possible entre la résine et le durcisseur. Pour les charges lis ce pour quoi elles sont destinées et teste par toi même les dosages. Je ne sait pas si cela peu t'aider,  mais regarde sur ma page traitant de la résine sur mon blog archiprog.blogspot.com. 

j'ai donné un peu mon retour d'expérience. 

Tu peu avoir accès à mon blog par celui juste au dessous (  la ou il y as des voiles pince de crabe)

[Éric Bouvéron]

Ton blog est excellent, Jean Paul.
For the rest, I " emailed" West System

[Budget Boater]

The quantities are correct so long as you are not wasteful.

It is important to understand that West System is a blushing epoxy. It uses amine blush to cure, which must be removed (usually by sanding) before it can be coated with any other substance, including more epoxy. (West now makes non-blushing epoxy for significantly more expense.)

Each type of filler has a different purpose. Combining different fillers in different proportions will accomplish different results. Silica adds strength to epoxy and is used to reduce sag. However it makes the epoxy VERY Hard, which makes it difficult to sand if you add too much. If you use only silica, it can make the cured epoxy quite brittle. We tend to only add silica at a maximum proportion of 1/2 (silica) to 1 (mixed epoxy) by volume, regardless of any other fillers we might be using with it.

There are two different types of micro balloons: High density and low density. High density balloons (with a higher specific gravity) are used for fillets in conjunction with silica. Low density balloons (with a lower specific gravity) are used for making easy to sand faring compound, which is applied thinly over any surface that needs to me smoothed.

If you want to make thickened glues, then you will want to acquire a cellulose powder. When used in conjunction with silica, you can make thickened glues to any consistency you like for any gluing purpose during your build.

Glass tape is glass tape. You don't need to purchase WS brand. Just find a fiberglass supplier and order 10oz glass tape in the width you want. Biaxial glass is a significantly different product, and much harder to use.

[Éric Bouvéron]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Budget Boater!

[Björn]

West is way too expansive an the minipumps always clog up, try www.bootsservice-behnke.de, way better value for money, very easy mixing ratios, it will cost you about a third of West.. I did all my recent projects with it and in my opinion it works better than West.

[Éric Bouvéron]

Yes, there is, there are many manufacturers, but the fact is that documentation and availability is not always possible for every brand. Germans of course but also Frenchs have a lot of brands, but I am not in Europe and I worry about the differences in quality.

[Budget Boater]

If you are worried about "documentation" then try Progressive Epoxy (it is what we use, and have been since abandoning West nearly 15 years ago.) There is more documentation on their website than you could ever read in one lifetime. It is much cheaper than West System, is non-blushing (hooray!), can be re-coated within 24 hours without sanding, and they sell all types of great fillers.

The amount of data on their website will make your head spin; visit at your own risk - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

EpoxyProducts.com - if you ever have to call for some technical support, chances are you will end up talking directly with the owner.

Éric Bouvéron said:

Yes, there is, there are many manufacturers, but the fact is that documentation and availability is not always possible for every brand. Germans of course but also Frenchs have a lot of brands, but I am not in Europe and I worry about the differences in quality.

[Éric Bouvéron]

It looks like an excellent product in the lucky USofA. However ...
«no - just me here in the USA - cannot ship most products outside the USA
paul»