Im looking at doing some bodywork bits myself, and would like to use epoxy instead of the usual polyester. Main reason is the polyester is too smelly
(might not get away with it 
)but the extra strength of epoxy would be good as well. I've even wondered about ising glass cloth instead of
mat.
I know epoxy is quite abit dearer than polyester, but Im wondring if anybody happens to know how much dearer it is (on average).
I will be looking up some prices anyway, but there's lots of people here who know lots of stuff, so thought I would ask anyway
I think it's something like 4-5 times the cost (or at least was when I was looking around a while back) i.e. A LOT! 
epoxy is nasty stuff to work with
quote:
Originally posted by balidey
epoxy is nasty stuff to work with
Skin rot.
Watch for old stock when it crystallizes
Cheers
Ive often wondered if epoxy resin and a normal fibre cloth would work at all?
Kevlar cloth is relatively cheap, as is glass fibre cloth.
quote:
Originally posted by v8kid
Skin rot.
quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
Ive often wondered if epoxy resin and a normal fibre cloth would work at all?
Don't you have to use a powder coated fibre? It's so long ago I forget but there is summat about that.
cheers
You can suffer from a severe allergic reaction to epoxy if you're sensitised to it. Once sensitive you can't even go near the stuff without
much unpleasantness. Different people sensitise with different exposures, some on first exposure, some take many years. See
http://www.fram.nl/workshop/controlled_vacuum_infusion/allergy.htm for gory details
For relative costs
Polyester is around £17 for 5kg
Epoxy £84 for 6kg
Both prices from http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/
The smell of the styrene in poly resin pales into insignificance to the degree of the extremely high carcinogenic nature of the epoxy hardeners. How
do I know?? You guessed it.
Stick with poly or vinylester resin, and put up with the smell, or put a big fan in the window, blowing outwards.
Cheers,
Nev.
I note that there are dangers with epoxy, but can't help wondering why the stuff is still made, and why so many people seem to work with it without wearing full positive pressure body suits.
Epoxy as said is just as nasty and somewhat worse.
Its about 4-6 times the price depending where you go.
You cant use it with chopped strand matt, there is no styrene to dissolve the emulsion that binds it.
youll never lay up a nosecone or suchlike with cloth unless youre very good with laminates.
quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
You cant use it with chopped strand matt, there is no styrene to dissolve the emulsion that binds it.
youll never lay up a nosecone or suchlike with cloth unless youre very good with laminates.