I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality with
expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat

On Jun 13, 6:33 pm, "mscres" wrote:
I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality with
expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat

There is a guy active here, Paul Oman at epoxyproducts.com who seems
to know his stuff. I have dealt with Larry at raka.com, had very good
experience there myself.

I have, several, years ago used it to rebuilt an outside rudder on a 8.5
Tanzer.

After the refurbishing was completed, I applied two coats of epoxy paint.

Yesterday, I have looked at the rudder and after all these years, it is in
very good condition.

After looking carefully, I found no signs of structural weakness, cracks or
any other defects.

No to mention that an outside rudder takes lost of beating in a following
sea and going astern. This is my 2¢ worth’s. Maybe someone else can say
the same thing about other epoxy formulators. People that sells epoxy are
not making it they are formulating it. West, East, System3, Raka and others
are buying the same basic raw material.


"mscres" wrote in message
...
I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality
with expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat

I have used epoxy from US Composites exclusively.

When I was locating materials for my first canoe I came across their web
site and have been a satisfied customer since year 2000. I have used their
epoxy on every build and for every epoxy need throughout the year. The
draw-back is that it is prone to blushing except for the fast (I think) mix.
The current boat is being built in better controlled conditions than
previous builds and I have much less blushing.

http://home.comcast.net/~wburk4133/misc1.html

Bill B

"mscres" wrote in message
...
I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality
with expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat

wrote:

On Jun 13, 6:33 pm, "mscres" wrote:


I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality with
expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat



There is a guy active here, Paul Oman at epoxyproducts.com who seems
to know his stuff. I have dealt with Larry at raka.com, had very good
experience there myself.



--------------
thanks for the nice lead in.
I have an entire web page that explains the differences in epoxies
(www.epoxyproducts.com/mepoxies.html )
but in a nutshell.....


The cheap vendors use simply repackage the correct resin and curing
agent from the big chemical companies that make them.

The companies like System 3, Progressive Epoxy, MAS, etc. start with
those products but then adjust them with additives, blends of curing
agents (there are about 60 different curing agents) to create properties
they want (like I to think they are good properties, but probably
certainly some of those 'fixes' are to cheapen the product and thus make
more profit).

For example, 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 mixes are easier to use (and may
be easier to formulate) but the curing agents are the expensive part so
more profit if the ratio uses less curing agent (say a 6 to 1 mix). Lots
of ways to make non-blushing epoxies, but those chemicals cost more -
so when profit is more important than customer satisfaction, the market
gets epoxies that blush...... barrier coats (epoxy paints) that need 6
coats, etc.

For a small company a formulated marine epoxy probably cost $25 - $35
per gallon to make. For the big volume vendors probably under $20 per
gallon. A stocking distributor might will demand a 60% discount over
the list price so the formulator , if he uses distributors, has to
really mark up the price so that he can still make a profit after
discounting (plus pay for 800 numbers, color brochures, trade shows)
etc. The epoxy makers that don't have any distributors probably don't
mark up their products enough to interest a distributor - that's win-win
for everyone except potential distributors.


Also note the marine/boatbuilding is not a challenging application for
epoxies, hence so many brands, prices, etc. (they all get the job done,
more like comparing apples to apples instead of apples to oranges).

A lot of marine coatings/resins seem to find their way into boating
circles after they have become outdated in the industrial/commercial
marketplace - jack up the price and squeeze a few more million $ from
a product no commercial contractor wants to buy any more. Example,
induction time (mix up an epoxy and you have to let it 'sit' for some
amount of time) - very rare in commercial epoxies - still common with
many 'marine epoxy paints'. Sad....


- that's the skinny/insider info on epoxies. - Don't think you would
get this kind of info from anyone else.

paul oman
progressive epoxy polymers inc
www.epoxyproducts.com/marine.html

I appreciate the way you have explained the world of epoxies.


"Paul Oman" wrote in message
k.net...
wrote:

On Jun 13, 6:33 pm, "mscres" wrote:

I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality
with
expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat


There is a guy active here, Paul Oman at epoxyproducts.com who seems
to know his stuff. I have dealt with Larry at raka.com, had very good
experience there myself.


--------------
thanks for the nice lead in.
I have an entire web page that explains the differences in epoxies
(www.epoxyproducts.com/mepoxies.html )
but in a nutshell.....


The cheap vendors use simply repackage the correct resin and curing agent
from the big chemical companies that make them.

The companies like System 3, Progressive Epoxy, MAS, etc. start with those
products but then adjust them with additives, blends of curing agents
(there are about 60 different curing agents) to create properties they
want (like I to think they are good properties, but probably certainly
some of those 'fixes' are to cheapen the product and thus make more
profit).

For example, 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 mixes are easier to use (and may
be easier to formulate) but the curing agents are the expensive part so
more profit if the ratio uses less curing agent (say a 6 to 1 mix). Lots
of ways to make non-blushing epoxies, but those chemicals cost more - so
when profit is more important than customer satisfaction, the market gets
epoxies that blush...... barrier coats (epoxy paints) that need 6 coats,
etc.

For a small company a formulated marine epoxy probably cost $25 - $35 per
gallon to make. For the big volume vendors probably under $20 per gallon.
A stocking distributor might will demand a 60% discount over the list
price so the formulator , if he uses distributors, has to really mark up
the price so that he can still make a profit after discounting (plus pay
for 800 numbers, color brochures, trade shows) etc. The epoxy makers that
don't have any distributors probably don't mark up their products enough
to interest a distributor - that's win-win for everyone except potential
distributors.


Also note the marine/boatbuilding is not a challenging application for
epoxies, hence so many brands, prices, etc. (they all get the job done,
more like comparing apples to apples instead of apples to oranges).

A lot of marine coatings/resins seem to find their way into boating
circles after they have become outdated in the industrial/commercial
marketplace - jack up the price and squeeze a few more million $ from a
product no commercial contractor wants to buy any more. Example,
induction time (mix up an epoxy and you have to let it 'sit' for some
amount of time) - very rare in commercial epoxies - still common with many
'marine epoxy paints'. Sad....


- that's the skinny/insider info on epoxies. - Don't think you would get
this kind of info from anyone else.

paul oman
progressive epoxy polymers inc
www.epoxyproducts.com/marine.html

On Jun 16, 10:22 pm, Paul Oman wrote:
wrote:
On Jun 13, 6:33 pm, "mscres" wrote:

I saw a low priced epoxy from US Composites. Anyone please give me some
opinion about this epoxy product? Is this product comparable in quality with
expensive WEST system?

Thanks,
sixfoot_flat

There is a guy active here, Paul Oman at epoxyproducts.com who seems
to know his stuff. I have dealt with Larry at raka.com, had very good
experience there myself.

--------------
thanks for the nice lead in.
I have an entire web page that explains the differences in epoxies
(www.epoxyproducts.com/mepoxies.html )
but in a nutshell.....


Yeah, no problem. You spend enough time here to warrant mention. In
fact we have spoken before and will again this week. I am building a
new boat and plan on trying your product this time around. Later,
JustWaitAFrekinMinute

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