Doing ding-repair yer'self

Doing ding-repair yer'self

Post by BBLOC.. » Thu, 13 Jul 1995 04:00:00


I'm curious to know if there are any good references anyone knows about
on how to do your own ding repairs (on an epoxy board)

Is it worth attempting yourself, or best left to a pro?

Thanks for help...

 
 
 

Doing ding-repair yer'self

Post by Steve Van Ka » Thu, 13 Jul 1995 04:00:00

You can use any kind of epoxy to repair a board.  If you aren't
sure if it's epoxy, put a small dab on a styrofoam cup.  If it eats
the cup don't use it.  I also use regular "fiberglass resin"
(polyester) for repairs as long as the styrofoam core is not
exposed.  Just make sure you rough the area up really good, because
it wont stick as good as epoxy.  If you use polyester resin, just
make sure it has wax added to it or it will
take weeks to cure enough to sand.  I like to use Polyester (with tons of
wax) because I can sand the board in an hour, instead of waiting
overnight for Epoxy to dry.  The 5-minuite epoxy stuff is good and can
be bought anywhere, though you will have to pay 5 bucks for a small
tube.  Most epoxies will turn yellow from the sun, so don't use them on a
really good board unless you have no other choice, unless it specificly
says something like "ever clear mombo jumbo" on the label.  Also, there
is no difference between epoxy glue and epoxy resin and either may be
used as the other.  I've used a dab of surfboard resin to glue my car
mirror with success and wouldn't hesitate using tubes of glue to
build an entire board out of as long as someone else is paying for
it.  For structural repairs you'll have to add (fiberglass) cloth.  Most
of the cloths sold at boat shops have chemicals added to make the cloth
soak up the resin better, this is ok to use, but it has a greenish tint
that will look bad on a clear board, so make sure the cloth is clear if
you are repairing a good board or it wont look pretty.  If you have a
small area and you want to reinforce it, just snip some cloth up into
short pieces and add it to your resin.  Remember that resin reinforced
with cloth is many times stronger than resin alone.  Go ahead and try
fixing it yourself, you can always take it to a shop and they can grind
off the mess you made if you***up.  Just make sure you don't sand
into the origional cloth to much and you wont hurt anything by trying to
repair it yourself.  There are a lot of little tricks that I could
publish if anyone is interested and I have tons of info on building
boards as well.

Surfsteve

: I'm curious to know if there are any good references anyone knows about
: on how to do your own ding repairs (on an epoxy board)

: Is it worth attempting yourself, or best left to a pro?

: Thanks for help...

 
 
 

Doing ding-repair yer'self

Post by Harold Blakn » Thu, 13 Jul 1995 04:00:00


Quote:

>Subject: Doing ding-repair yer'self
>Date: 12 Jul 1995 02:32:44 -0400
>I'm curious to know if there are any good references anyone knows about
>on how to do your own ding repairs (on an epoxy board)
>Is it worth attempting yourself, or best left to a pro?
>Thanks for help...

I've been "attempting" to repair my own epoxy board for a while
now (1 year or so). I've got an older 9' Priester and seem to
have a habit of breaking the nose off as well as smashing the
deck with the boom. I had been bringing the board to the shop for
repair but it was spending more time in the shop than in my
house, not to mention the cost of a repair ($30 or more each
time). Decided to invest in some "West System" epoxy and go for
it. It has been fun learning some of the tricks to repairs. Don't
need to spend a lot in supplies, but some good tools really make the
job easier (and doable). A good sander is amust.

The best reference I've had has been from the local board builder
and repair shop. They have given me some real good tips when I
run into some problems when trying to do a certain type of
repair.

I'm *no* pro at it and the board shows that fact but where it is
only cosmetics I won't hesitate taking the sandpaper to the
problem. If the board is not your "favorite" board I'd give it a
shot. Glass is fun because if I mess it up I sand it off and
try again. Now, If I had a finbox to do or if I had to reattach a
delaminated bottom [sound familiar Tom] I'd take it to the shop,
unless you really don't care too much about it and just want to
learn. I've still got problems trying to feather out repairs to
look flat and sharp rails are giving me fits.

Have fun,

Harold

 
 
 

Doing ding-repair yer'self

Post by Don Heffern » Thu, 13 Jul 1995 04:00:00


There are a lot of little tricks that I could

Quote:
>publish if anyone is interested and I have tons of info on building
>boards as well.
>Surfsteve

Post them.  In fact, if they are organized turn them into an FAQ.  Any of
several of us  who read this newsgroup would be glad to keep it permanently
posted on the WWW.



                   (WWW) http://www.access.digex.net/~donheff/donheffernan.html

 
 
 

Doing ding-repair yer'self

Post by mbri.. » Thu, 13 Jul 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

> ...The 5-minuite epoxy stuff is good and can
> be bought...

My experience with 5-minute epoxy is: don't use it unless you have to.
5-minute epoxy turns soft with prolonged exposure to water.  The use labels
on most 5-mimute kits shun water use.  A good rule of thumb for any
thermosetting resin system:  The faster it cures - the more brittle it
will be.  Fast curing resins don't have as much crosslinking, a.k.a.
toughness, as slower curing resins.  But who cares about ideal crosslinking
when you want to get back on the water in five minutes !!