Thread: stitch and glue filler

That range of fillers sounds like it should cover the full range of goops you will need to use. Go on the website of that particular manufacturer of epoxy and you should find all the info you need. If not try one of the others - Bote Cote, West System, System Three for starters

G

For general use filler, Micro balloons work well, I have not used Aero sil but I believe that it is an excellent filler,.

You will also need a Glue powder additive, as the other fillers are too soft for actually using as a glue filler, also most glue powders have another additive to prevent sag in (thrixotropic )

Talc is not a filler I would recommend as it is too hard.

My preferences are Micro-Balloons & Aero-Sil for fillers and a good glue powder as well.

Jeff
vk4

For general use filler, Micro balloons work well, I have not used Aero sil but I believe that it is an excellent filler,.

You will also need a Glue powder additive, as the other fillers are too soft for actually using as a glue filler, also most glue powders have another additive to prevent sag in (thrixotropic )

Talc is not a filler I would recommend as it is too hard.

My preferences are Micro-Balloons & Aero-Sil for fillers and a good glue powder as well.

Jeff
vk4

What type / brand Epoxy are you using???

Originally Posted by vk4

For general use filler, Micro balloons work well, I have not used Aero sil but I believe that it is an excellent filler,.

You will also need a Glue powder additive, as the other fillers are too soft for actually using as a glue filler, also most glue powders have another additive to prevent sag in (thrixotropic )

Talc is not a filler I would recommend as it is too hard.

My preferences are Micro-Balloons & Aero-Sil for fillers and a good glue powder as well.

Jeff
vk4

What type / brand Epoxy are you using???

is from consolidated coatings from eBay (concoat) i have used it plenty of times before with no problems

the plans say to use wood flour mixed with silica but don't no where to get silica from.
the boat is a tango skiff 13 footer from the us .

There are three basic filler mixtures; a structural filler mix, a light structural filler mix and a cosmetic mixture. With the exception of a cosmetic mix, micro balloons wouldn't be in the other mixes usually.

A structural mix would usually be a heavy fibrous filler, such as milled fibers and wood flour. These would be mixed with silica to control viscosity and covered with fabric.

A light structural mix would be more of the same, though could live without the fabric.

The cosmetic mixture will have a high concentration of round particulates, such as micro balloons or Q-cells, again mixed with amounts of silica, to control viscosity. Talc can also be used to make the mixture smooth and easy to fair. Often a light cloth is applied over these cosmetic mixes to improve abrasion resistance.

There is no one mixture that works for everything. The plans should give you an idea of what type of joint you are working with. For example; the chine seams will need a structural mix, while the inside of the cockpit seats, where they land on the sole, may just require a fairing cosmetic mix, to make cleaning easier.

The inside corners of a filleted joint are the most important, while the outside can often just live with a light filler and tape.