bubbles in epoxy/filler

[The Penguin]

I'm trying to get my hull finished and to a painter. As I get the tubbies sanded down, I see I have many small bubbles in the fairing filler.

How do I fix this? I'm thinking either another skim coat of fairing filler and more sanding - or to ask the painter to hit it with some high-build primer to fill them in and sand.

thoughts?

 

[Big Kahuna]

body filler.........
or you can use resin will filler.........

 

[GDFL]

a thin skim coat will do the job. You're painter will probably give it a once over anyway with thin body filler unless he really is just going to shoot it with a gun.

 

[The Penguin]

so if I do a skim coat, should it be a thicker or thinner consistency?

 

[GDFL]

so if I do a skim coat, should it be a thicker or thinner consistency?

definitely thinner. Thicker will trap bubbles and be harder to get into the voids.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I usually use a very thin cote and paint it on with a small paint brush.

 

[Mark44]

In the future
A good way to keep the bubbles out of your epoxy is to first mix the epoxy and hardener with a round stir stick not a Popsicle stick or pint stirrer then to take it a step further is to pull a vacuum on the mixed epoxy container for a few minutes.

Mark44

 

[SuperDrifter]

Marine grade body filler, is easy to sand. Epoxy with talc strong as hell, but difficult to sand.

 

[The Penguin]

it's West Systems 105 Epoxy Resin with 205 hardener mixed with #407 Los Density Fairing Filler.

 

[madscientist]

is the 407 micro ballons or just filler?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

The 407 is a low density filler ,I personally never use it ,I like the 410 microlight(glass spheres) much better,if you need something a bit stronger than microlight just add in some 406(cabosil) to make it the density you prefer,but the more 406 you add the more difficult it is to sand

 

[The Penguin]

I used 404 (High Density Filler) for filling in the larger gaps and 407 for final shaping.

and 404 is a bitch to get sanded down where it was not needed. :biggrin:

 

[QuickMick]

Marine Tex will work to fill in the small bubble holes. Just squeegee it on and sand.

 

[madscientist]

glazing compound from the paint and body shop

it is super thin and rock solid when cured

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I would only use bondo and or glazing compound on areas not continually submersed in the water though.

 

[shawn_NJ]

In the future
A good way to keep the bubbles out of your epoxy is to first mix the epoxy and hardener with a round stir stick not a Popsicle stick or pint stirrer then to take it a step further is to pull a vacuum on the mixed epoxy container for a few minutes.

Mark44

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to try that this weekend.