Best Glue and Epoxy for Contructing Wood Hulls

Intlwaters

Help Support Intlwaters:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Ken Smith

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
276
Hey All,

I'm about ready to tackle my first boat build. Its a Dumas Circus kit. I've read all the threads about trimming the fat on this boat and I intend to adopt a few of these techniques in the build. However, first things first. Glues and Epoxys. What is the best? This is an 1/8th scale boat running in the 60 class so I need something that is durable yet light. Also, I have seen a few wood hulls that appear to be painted with a single coat of either epoxy or fiberglass resin. I'm assuming this is to seal the boat? I also assume it is lightly sanded and painted there after? The Dumas intstructions call for the bottom of the boat to be completely glassed and have included the glass fabric sheet in the kit. I'm guessing this will add some additional weight. Thanks all :)
 
West Systems Epoxy is what most in Washigton use to the best of my knowledge. It's spendy, but worth it. I've got a Circus kit as well and I'm still confused as to why they think you need to glass the bottom. To me, it's just extra weight for no real gain
 
West Systems for standed or airospace glass or wood. Or if Carbon fiber is your game the only glue that I use Loctite Hysol
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll check those out. What about applying resin/epoxy over the entire hull prior to painting? Or is paint by itself fine? Thanks :)
 
I have used Mas and LOVE it. I use it on the lightning .12, all my cowlings, Kneeler, and now my NS295 build. It don't blush! Never ANY problems.

TL
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll check those out. What about applying resin/epoxy over the entire hull prior to painting? Or is paint by itself fine? Thanks :)
What I do is apply, let it soak into the wood for about 3-5 minutes then wipe any excess of with a LINT free cloth. When dry lightly sand with some fine sand paper lightly and begin your primer.

Good luck on the build.

TL
 
I also have used both West System and MAS, and I have to give the edge to the West Systems. All the hulls I build are with it now. I recommend epoxing the exterior even with paintwork. The thing is, the epoxy will build up the grain, so when you paint, no wood grain will show! Important step! Mike
 
Is this what I need for securing the bulkhead framework together:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=14974&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10104&subdeptNum=10296&classNum=10297

I have worked with epoxy before. I understand it needs to be mixed with the hardner. Usually I will mix this in a cup and apply to the object with a popsicle stick. Is there a cleaner and more efficient way of doing this for boat building? An applicator of some kind maybe? Also, what should the epoxy "weld" look like? Should it be a single visible bead spanning the lenght of the seam or should it be barely visible?

Lastly, what West Systems product should I use to seal the inside of the boat as well as the outside decking? How should this be applied? With a brush and wiped off? Sorry for the elementary questions here. This is my first build and I'd like to get it right the first time. Thanks!

Ken
 
I normally use the 209 hardener for the extended cure time during assembly. I INITIALLY use just enough to hold the parts and, after the joint has cured, I coat the inside of the boat with a thin layer, forming a small fillet at the joints in the process. As for coating the outside, either the 209 or 207 will work. The 207 is formulated for coating and glassing so it is probably the better choise for the outside of the hull
 
Thanks HJ. Do you use the 105 resin wiht the 209/207 hardner? Do you use a brush to apply to the bulkhead and skins? Do you let it soak into the wood then wipe away the excess? Thanks again!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
105 is the only resin West Systems has so I took it for granted that you already knew that, sorry. I normally use the disposable metal brushes to apply the epoxy for whatever I'm using it for. As for wiping it off, I normally use a plastic scraper UNLESS I am using it for a top coat like I did on my Pak build. That one I used the epoxy as a seal coat as well as a very rough finish coat for testing. I'll be sanding it down later before it gets painted to remove a majority of the excess.
 
Thanks Terry. I'll look into those syringes. So the ratio of resin to hardner is not 1 to 1? I am a newby to this so, again, thanks for the patience. HJ, thanks for the clarification on the resin. Didn't realize WS offers only one. I remember seeing your Pak boat at Starbucks a few months back. The epoxy coat caught my eye then. Makes sense now that it would be used for testing only. Thanks :)
 
Back
Top