West System

[CSR4C]

I have been using System Three for 25 years. It is 2:1 raito. I buy it in 5 gal for resin, 2 1/2 gal for hardner. Use the fast hardner Dec-Feb, medimum hardner the rest of the year.
I have only used West System once (at another shop) didn't like the smell of the stuff.
Last year on one of my trips to H.A.R.M. in Kent WA, I stopped at System Three to pick some up. The owner took me on a tour of the plant, gave me some samples of their new products. Easyer to use, by more expesive. They had a real good fairing compound that I bought about a gallon of later. He said that I was his oldest customer.

Darrell

[bill boyes]

If you are using West System to provide a protective coating on your boat and not using it for structural adhesive you can cut your expense by thinning the mixture with acetone. Some folks have been know to dilute it up to 50% Acetone. I goes on thinner and smoother. Try a bit as an experiment before diluting a large batch.

Try Denatured Alcohol or Lacquer Thinner much cheaper than Acetone. Does not take much. Maybe 5%. CSR4C gave this hint several years ago.

[18W]

Put the alcohol in a spray bottle and mist over a top coat for a nice smooth finish.

[L. Allen]

Laurie has it right again. The East System is available from Noah's in Maine.

And you people thought I was just the eye candy.

[acr924]

And you people thought I was just the eye candy.

Laurie Allen's not just another pretty face.

[TLSM301]

May also need to consider the environmental conditions at the time you are blending and using the west system.. Like any epoxy.. its succeptible to heat and humidity. In a controlled environment it will perform to its specs. The wood would break before the epoxy does.

[RICK BIRD]

What's wrong with the East System?

"THE WEST IS BEST" LOL

[Bill Huson]

Buy big . . .

I use to buy WEST in the 5 gallon jug, I think WEST called it 45 pound set or something like that. Big jug of 105, gallons of hardner. The 105 resin lasts for freaking ever, but the hardner, especially the fast hardener, gets kinda dark looking after several months. No prob, still works. I seem to recall the big ol' jug and pair of harder gallons (slow/fast) cost less that a trio of gallon sets.

Shop local - try to cut a deal for "Runne Boats, LLC" or some such. Forget West Marine, they be stylish yachtsman expensive. I think there's a WEST dealer/distributor on your side on the river down in Bayboro.

[epugh66]

I know one boat builder that coated his concrete basement floor in WEST System. He used to buy the five gallon/one gallon jugs from Gougeon Bros, but now it's by the barrell.

WEST is so good that you can build a boat, repair a childs toy, build the strongest re-inforced cockpit or seal your basement floor with it. Funny how the others say "as good as WEST".

I even have have a one gallon of 105 with hardener in the VW Bus Works garage. VW buses have wood on the inside, real ones any way, Westfalias....ha ha...pun...WESTfalia!

[mercguy]

I could only dream of one day being a "real" boat builder like you, Sam.



Everyone else, thanks for all the helpful info.

you mean my new CSR is not being built by a "real" boat builder????????

[JESSE74]

Real boat builders don't take your money for a boat kit, promise delivery in three weeks and then ignore your calls for three months!