> Hi All;

> I got to visit a surfboard manufacturer this morning, and did I see some
> nice work! A friend who volunteered to teach me how to glass my kayak took
> me there to show me how they do it. Many of the boards are made from
> reinforced balsa blanks, and are then covered with glass and epoxy.

> The finishes were phenomenal and looked just like molten glass - I asked
> what they used and the answer was a coat of polyester resin applied last,
> over the epoxy, and then sanded and buffed to a mirror finish. The resin
> is made sandable by the addition of wax when mixing it. I asked about UV
> protection, and he explained that both the epoxy and the polyester resin
> had additives, and pointed up to the old retired boards hanging from the
> ceiling, dating back to the 60's.

> Has anyone ever heard of, or had any experience finishing epoxy with PR? I
> would lean in this direction cuz I suspect I could sand and buff up a
> killer shine more successfully than I could with varnish and a brush . . .

> I'd be getting all my materials from them, so compatiblity is a given.

> Thanks for any info, and Best Regards, Spidey

> P.S. Wish I'd brought my camera . . .

I have always been told by polyester suppliers that they will not adhere to epoxy. However a few years ago a polyester resin came on the market that was compatible with SMC which uses an epoxy resin. (I have had experience with polyesters literally falling off of SMC.)

Are you sure that he is talking about a resin as in fiberglass and not a resin as in clearcoat? The reason I ask is that all the fiberglass resins (polyester) that I have worked with would be impossible to polish.

Ian