Will duct tape.......

[Boomyal]

Will duct tape hold up as a dam for epoxy resin, or will the epoxy eat thru it? I am making a 2 x 4 support across the inside of my curved transom to distribute the load of a center mounted ski tow eye. The boat has an OMC 800 so the transom is only about a 1/4 inch thick. The outside has a nice smooth curvature but the left inside is irregular due to a transom repair. It's near impossible to get back under the rear decking to make a good pattern so I have as much as a 3/16" gap between the support and the transom in places. I want to tape the underside of the support, on the irregular side, and fill it with epoxy so there is even contact with the whole breadth of the transom.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Will duct tape.......

it has worked for me in the past. some epoxies will get hot and expand alot when curing. <br /> good luck and dont mix the hardner to hot

 

[crab bait]

Re: Will duct tape.......

it really wont work well... the 'poxy will 'slime thru' the adhesive, somewhat , an leak..<br /><br />hardware store can of window ( glazier) putty works better..<br /><br />3/16 gap is 'pushin' the limit'.. <br /><br />best get some silica, an milled fiberglass powder at marine center.. mix in with already mixed up epoxy.. to a paste... along with 'your ' putty dam... <br /><br />your whole boat will fall apart before 'that' joint will fail...<br /><br />i'll give you my crab bait on it..

 

[BillP]

Re: Will duct tape.......

I don't use duct tape but DO use 3M masking tape to this stuff with epoxy and polyester. They don't eat it or lift the edges if put down properly. Wait for the resin to get rubbery and pull the tape. Otherwise it will stick and is difficult to remove. I've used more than a few rolls(hundreds) and never had a problem.

 

[wallbanger2]

Re: Will duct tape.......

I found that the epoxy will seap past the duct tape. I tried to do a small fix with it and ended up with another mess on the deck after it leaked out. I did have good luck with aluminum duct tape though. That was on a verticle surface and I don't know if it would seap on a horizontal surface or not.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Will duct tape.......

Project Complete and I'm happy to report that 1 1/2" masking tape held the resin. My transom support is about 5' long and 1 1/2" high on the surface that contacts the transom. The voids were as much as 3/16" between the support and the transom. I applied the tape at the bottom of the support and to the transom. I poured in about a 1/3 qt of West Systems, unthickened, slow cure Epoxy resin and filled those gaps right up with nothing but a few drips passing the tape.