Yes, one can use epoxy with fiberglass mat as long as the mat is of the stitched type as opposed to the more common glued binder. The binding glue is the problem with epoxy as the fiberglass strand in mat wets out with epoxy, but the binder that holding things together does not dissolve. I recall reading this first on Wally’s site and later confirmed it when I purchased some stitched mat. Here a link I just googled: https://www.skaps.com/en/stitched-chopped-strand-mat.html
I agree with the “go metric” but let me add to it a “go medical”. For mixing small quantities (which is the majority of the time), I found using medical syringes work great. They are cheap (about 10¢ each purchased in bulk), so you can freely toss them out, but they can also be reused (I keep a 1ml & 3ml for hardener and a 5ml and 10ml for resin). I also keep a bunch of 1ml, 5ml, and 10ml syringes in my resin bucket. I have mixed as little as 3ml of epoxy. It is a great way not only to precisely mix but also reduce excess waste. That said, I always keep a some left-over to verify the cure. - Paul E. 1981 C&C Landfall 38 S/V Johanna Rose Fort Walton Beach, FL http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ > On Jan 3, 2020, at 12:00 PM, [email protected] wrote: > > Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2020 08:50:40 -0600 > From: "Dennis C." <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> > To: CnClist <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> > Subject: Re: Stus-List Re core my deck - resin vs epoxy > Message-ID: > <CANir+ytHM8rCvDMa74gURUkgaeA=htt1zsmnq6r35wowe7x...@mail.gmail.com > <mailto:CANir+ytHM8rCvDMa74gURUkgaeA=htt1zsmnq6r35wowe7x...@mail.gmail.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Not using epoxy with matte is also more desirable if you're finishing with > gelcoat. Not sure how some of the newer epoxies that cure without an amine > blush would work with matte. I haven't tried them. > > Vinylester resin is sometimes intimidating to DIYers because of the mix > ratios. The West System proportional pumps make it so easy most of us just > go for the epoxy. > > One thing I learned early on about polyester, vinylester and gelcoat > applications was to "go metric". The suggested MEKP addition is 1-2% by > weight. I used a small digital kitchen scale whenever I mixed them. > However measuring by volume is usually close enough. Using mix cups and > measuring cups labeled with mls (milliliters) will work. You'll need some > of the small 30 ml measuring cups (medicine cups) for the MEKP. You won't > get an accurate result if you're trying to measure 2-4 mls in a 500 ml > cup. > > Whereas epoxy has arguably better bonding, vinylester resin is a lot less > expensive and has about the same strength. Additionally, you avoid having > to buy the West System proportional pumps. > > Dennis C. > Touche' 35-1 #83 > Mandeville, LA
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