West systems

[crunch]

I was just cruising through my local Do-It-Best hardware store and they have the complete line of West systems products!!!... at below the cost West Marine has on it's web site ($85.00 per gal. epoxy) and no shipping!!!!... and I get a contractors discount ($76.50 per gal)

You might want to checkout your hardware store... this is brand new here, wasn't in the store yesterday.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: West systems

IMO West Marine is a rip off! Priced way too high. It pays to shop.

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

So Bob, where do you recommend getting your fiberglass supplies?...Brand?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: West systems

If it's fiberglass I am after I go to walmart for the resin and an autostore for the cloth (heavy duty). If it's epoxy I check the net and there are quite a few epoxy sellers out there (type in epoxy in ebay too). Additionally a few of the hardware stores here deal in west systems (the timber home builders use it) and it is cheaper than west marine.

As a side note - Your Avatar is a great match for mine.... LOL

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

LOL.... before and after pics.

I'm trying to make a list of what I need as we are going to Portland tomorrow and will have time to shop... it is nice to know that I have a local supply now though.

Just about ready to start glassing, found a bit of rot under fuel tank mount and followed it back to transom. Rot stopped 6 inches from transom, dodged another bullet.

Thanx for the response,
Eric

 

[andy6374]

Re: West systems

www.fgci.com
www.mertons.com

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

www.fgci.com
www.mertons.com

Thanx Andy, I've spent the last 3 hrs. at Merton on-line and the prices will be hard to beat.

Also the 52 page pdf on boat repair is a must read.

Thanx again

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: West systems

custombycrunch

check out Fisherman's marine in portland there pretty cheap i think $65.00 a gallon

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

custombycrunch

check out Fisherman's marine in portland there pretty cheap i think $65.00 a gallon

Hey thanx Gunner.

I just googled it and it's down by Powels book store where the wife has plans for about 3 hours tomorrow... now, if they are open....naaaaaaa, but I'll check.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: West systems

yes there open as is boater's world. dont turn your nose up there some of there prices are very good... and it's only 2 miles away.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: West systems

Fishermans Marine has raised there prices on West Systems epoxy 3 weeks ago to $89/Gal. like anywhere else. I was getting it there for $61.99 and the hardener for $23.99. Oh well, a good thing never lasts. Fortunately, only needed one more gallon for my project.

While in Portland, don't overlook TAP Plastics. They have 2 locations in the area. Good prices and good service. That is where I get all my tape and cloth. BTW, suggest you buy tape there in 50yd rolls. Much cheaper that way and always seemed to never have enough when I calculated what I needed anyway. They have web site with their name.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: West systems

I have purchased a lot of stuff from fiberlay.com in the past. I particullarly like their knitted fabric if you need bulk and strength. Not sure how their prices compare, but they are helpful and don't mind explaining stuff to the novice.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: West systems

I like Marinepoxy, it's a good wet out and fillet maker- 2:1 ratio, so it's easy to work with. It's $85 dollars for a 1.5 gal kit (1 gal. epoxy resin + .5 gal. hardener). I used this on my second boat, and liked it almost as much as the S3 product I used on my first boat.

go to boatbuildercentral.com look at epoxies and checkout Marinepoxy.

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

Thanx all.

Hera's the list with prices from Merton:

2 gal. resin w/1 gal. hardener (they run 2:1) =3 gal $153.00

Thixotropic powder 1/4 lb. $5.50

Wood flour 2 lb. $6.00

Epoxy pumps (2) $7.50

Al. laminatiing roller 1"x6" straight $11.00

Al. corner roller 1/4" $8.10

Graduated wax paper cups (100) $15.00

Gerson particulate respirators (20) $17.50

50"x 6 yd. 12 oz. dbl. bia-axial cloth $42.00

6"x50 yd. 17 oz. dbl. bi-axial tape $75.00

Total with out shipping $337.35

My guess is shipping will be less than $20.00 UPS 7 day.

I already have stir sticks (tongue depressors) and box( 100 pair) nitrile gloves ( wife is nurse o



See project boat

Up to date pics and thread at:

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=26;gtid=1146872

Have I missed anything?

 

[andy6374]

Re: West systems

Joe at mertons is a super fast shipper.

Why are you going with 12 oz. dbl. bia-axial cloth? I'd go with 1708 because that layer 0.75 mat will suck up some excess resin.

For what it's worth I like the 1/2"x3" aluminum rollers the best and it's all I use. The even get into corners. I find the corner and radius rollers to be of no great value.

Also I'd forget about the wood flour...just get more thixotropic powder (cabosil). For the strongest putties mix in some milled fibers.

what are you planning on doing anyways?

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

I'm going with bi-axial for shear strength. there are no stringers in my boat, just a very solid V shaped bilge with the floor being the third side of a triangle and tied into the side walls... bi-axial will give more strength with less weight.

See links for what I'm doing.

Thanx for the tip on the wood flour.

 

[mtnrat]

Re: West systems


"Thanx Andy, I've spent the last 3 hrs. at Merton on-line and the prices will be hard to beat.

Also the 52 page pdf on boat repair is a must read."

I cannot find the 52 page pdf. Could someone post a direct link.
Thanks,

 

[crunch]

Re: West systems

"Thanx Andy, I've spent the last 3 hrs. at Merton on-line and the prices will be hard to beat.

Also the 52 page pdf on boat repair is a must read."

I cannot find the 52 page pdf. Could someone post a direct link.
Thanks,

Here it is:

http://www.mertons.com/Epoxy/documents/epoxy_book.pdf

 

[mtnrat]

Re: West systems

Wow that was fast,
Thanks.

 

[andy6374]

Re: West systems

1708 is a biaxel fabric. It just has .75 mat stitched into it. What you are getting is 1708 without the mat...which helps sucks up excess resin.