The Epoxy Files

Rot repairs can easily become another service for you to offer your customers that will put more money in your pocket. Some contractors are finding that repair work can contribute significantly to their yearly revenue.

Over the last thirty years, chemical product manufacturers have had to meet tremendous challenges. Two of these with huge impact are regulatory requirements and, less prominent, but with greater long-term effects, changing customer attitudes. System Three Resins, a manufacturer of polymer products in the marine industry for over twenty-five of those thirty years, has met those challenges. And one area where we feel we've done better than most is marine coatings.

A common technical question goes something like this: "Will XYZ paint work over your epoxy?" Or perhaps the corollary question "Will your epoxy work over ABC stain?" Our answer, which is almost always the same, often shocks the inquirer: "We don't know, you'll have to test it yourself. Here's how to do it...".

A high Tg resin may be cured in two ways: It can be cured initially at elevated temperatures or it can be partially cured (becomes solid) at room temperature and then heated (post-cured). The two routes get one to the same place if sufficient time is allowed for both. The first route can be tricky because the epoxy reaction is exothermic and may excessively spike the temperature. Most boats are laid up at room temperature - hand lay up, vacuum bagged or infused - and post cured later simply because this route is considerably easier...

Occasionally one needs to bring fiberglass cloth around a sharp edge. This could occur on the trailing edge of a rudder, for example. Those who have tried this know that it is almost impossible to do. The fiberglass is just too "springy" and lifts from the edge creating air pockets. These eventually tear or fill with water. In either case the wooden substrate gets wet and the reason for having the fiberglass there in the first place is lost. While it is possible to keep pushing the fiberglass back down until the tackiness of the resin finally holds it in place there are far better ways to do this.

Welcome to The Epoxy Book by System Three Resins, Inc.

Here you will find a wealth of information regarding the use of epoxy in boat building, wood working, rot repair and more.

The best way to learn about epoxy resin products is to use them. You have to practice, just as you would if you were learning to snowboard, sail or play the guitar. The best and least expensive way to practice is to get The SilverTip Epoxy Trial Kit, some cheap lumber and try some of the techniques outlined in this book. Nothing beats hands-on learning. Even experienced epoxy users benefit from practice when trying something new. If you get stuck on something, go to our website, become a member if you haven’t already done so, look in the FAQ’s, glossary, literature, product data sheets, or MSDS and see if you can find the answer to your question. If you contact us with a question we’ve already answered we will point you to the information rather than answer your question directly– you’ll learn more that way.

We select our resin and hardener raw materials with the health and safety of our customers in mind. However, it is not possible to make a perfectly safe epoxy resin system. These materials all have health risks, especially if improperly used. The primary hazard when working with an epoxy system is skin irritation leading to potential skin sensitization from prolonged and repeated contact. Most people who become sensitized are unable to continue working with epoxies without breaking out in a rash most commonly on the inside of the forearms and on the forehead above the eyebrows. The effect appears to be cumulative. That is, you might be able to get away with getting epoxy on your skin for a while, but it could catch up to you and you will be sensitized.