Author Topic: System Three Epoxy Question  (Read 1001 times)

Offline Dave521

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System Three Epoxy Question
« on: September 10, 2008, 09:36:00 PM »
Does anyone know if the System Three Marine Epoxy would work for building bows, it is used to bond wood and fiberglass laminations for boat hulls and such. just curious, I have access to about 3/4 gallon of this epoxy and would be more feasable to use it then to buy any more.

Offline Dave521

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Re: System Three Epoxy Question
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2008, 02:41:00 AM »
an additional question about epoxies, has anyone heard or used an epxoy named t88? if so is it any good for bow making?

Offline tommy6

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Re: System Three Epoxy Question
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2008, 11:18:00 AM »
I have used system 3 to build surfboards. It is high quality stuff. It needs a thickening agent to create any gap filling. You can use wood flour, saw dust, microballoons or silica. Laminating fiberglass to wood it can be used without thickeners, but for wood to wood I would use one of the above agents to prevent gaps. Just make sure to mix the  resin and hardner well, in the proper amounts. follow the directions to the letter and you will get excellent results. To prevent it drom setting too fast, some people mix it in a flat pan to keep it cool. While mixing it is exothermic (gives off heat) and this heat will hasten curing time. There is no absolute need to cure in a hot box, unless temps are below 50 F. Cooler temps prolong cure time, so the cooler it is the longer I would wait before stressing a glued joint. This epoxy used in a thin or less viscous state also makes an excellent finish. Be aware though that some formulations will be more brittle than oil finishes and may over time show some stress fractures on frequently flexed parts of a bow.
T88 is a good glue for structural bonds like risers, tips, arrow heads, etc. It usually needs no thickening. If the glue joint will need sanding afterward and you are afraid that the epoxy will be too hard to sand, microballoons will make the cured glue easier to sand. That pretty much goes for any type of epoxy.
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Online Pat B

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Re: System Three Epoxy Question
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2008, 01:42:00 PM »
The main thing about glues for bows is its bendability or flexibility. Just because it bonds FG to wood doesn't necessarily make it good for bows. If I were making a glass bow I would use one of the proven bow epoxies. You put too much work into building a bow to loose it to an epoxy that wasn't made for bows.     Pat
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