Minnesota Canoe Association

Boat Building How to...

2000

A Few Tips for Working with Resins (Epoxy or Polyester) (h26)

by Dale Hedtke

Hot weather is here and many of you are in the process of fiber glassing your boats. Here are a few tips for working with resins (either epoxy or polyester). Try to avoid the very hottest days; all sorts of screwy things happen when the heat and humidity climb into the "really sticky" zone. The trick to working in hot weather is in avoiding excessive heat buildup and premature curing of the resin. Work in small batches, pour the resin into flat pans such as a paint roller tray, etc. (the extra surface area helps cool the resin.) Pour the (small batch) directly on the boat; cool the resin; dunk the resin cans in ice water to cool it. It will warm up in a hurry on the warm boat. Use the "slow" hardener with epoxy resin. Use the minimum catalyst with polyester resin (consult the resin manufacturer's time/temperature charts.)