geekomatic
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 136
Since buying my little gimped-up runabout in February,I feel I have learned an amazing amount concerning the attributes of epoxy resin. I must thank everyone that participates in this board for that. Either the advise has been dead on the money, or I have been pointed in the right direction to find the correct info by someone on this site.<br />Recently, I decided to branch off into my own little experiment with epoxy resin, which has prompted this essay.<br />I've been using West System epoxy resin, cloth,tape,etc.At first I thought I was using it merely because I have a West Marine within whizzing distance of my house and I knew of no other product.As many of you know, the West System epoxy resin is around $70 a gallon, with the hardener being around $30 for the appropriate mix ratio.<br />I've gotten pretty comfortable using it.It's easy to use,has very little residual fumes, and it hardens crystal clear unless you add a fairing or thickening agent.At that point,it hardens into a nice milky color, or something that resembles apple butter if using the fillet blend.All-around good results. I'm very pleased with the results.<br />I was in an auto parts store last week buying wiper blades and, Lo and Behold, I find Epoxy resin made by Bondo? $25 a gallon !!!This is where I strayed from the path. I could not resist the opportunity to save a few bucks.Lord,Please forgive me of my mongrel ways. <br />Now, some of us will remember the fantastic metal-straightening properties of Bondo.You could fill up a half inch deep ding in the quarter panel of your Maverick or Camaro (whoo hoo!), or even your lime-green Pinto in just a few minutes and it would look fine until you hit a hard bump and that crap fell right out 'cause you weren't supposed to fill up a dent that deep with that garbage,but everybody did it anyway.Don't forget that smell the stuff exuded. NIIIICE! That's one reason why the literacy rate is so low in my area,and we have a bride that lives within a half mile of my house that decides she wants to bail out,go to Vegas,and have the whole freakin' country look for her on my tax dime. Looks at her photos! It's a deer in headlights, and it's all because she,or a close family member,sniffed or worked with too much Bondo. I am convinced of this.<br />At any rate, I used this swill on my boat because I thought I would actually save a couple of bucks.All I did was tack a nice drain tube under my seat riser,thank God. I followed the resin/hardener ratio directions to the letter.It was forty eight hours later that I checked my progress. The stuff had the pliability of silly putty after two days.If you follow the hardener/resin ratio on the can, it will NEVER,EVER cure.You can spread it on toast.A fringe benefit to this wonderful chemical soup is that it projects some of the most incredible fumes known to man.Even after two days, I had to go and buy box fans to get some air circulating in my garage.My cats are walking sideways, and after taking my respirator off for a few minutes,I started seeing colors that just don't exist.At least they haven't since college.<br />It's been three days now, and I'm still not free of the fumes.I can taste the stuff. I actually have neighbors a block away telling me that they can smell it.<br />This stuff is garbage.It cures like garbage and it looks like garbage.I have to scrape the junk out and start all over.Still not sure how to rid myself of these unbelievable fumes.I really have no clue how to dispose of the unused portion, but I don't want it near me. <br /> If you are tempted to use this monkey-spooge based upon cost,please follow my advise and go ahead and spend the money on the West Systems stuff. It's worth every penny it costs.<br />This whacked-out,chromosome-altering stew called Bondo is actually made or distributed somewhere in my city.<br />We have many problems here. It's all starting to make sense now.Sorry for the rant.<br />That's my opinion. I welcome yours.
<br /><br />Yup I saw that junk on the shelf at the home depot but I thankfully resisted the urge to not splurge! <br /><br />And why oh why did she have to come here of all places?<br /><br />They canot stop talking about that funny looking nurse.<br /><br />My Dad told me once about 90% of Nurses are loony.<br />Good thing my wifes in the 10% catagory. 
