: I am building my first wooden Kayak and am in the glass and
: epoxying stage. Being my first project of this type, I have a
: couple questions on applying several coats of epoxy. Some
: instruction I have been given recommends putting your second and
: third coats of epoxy on (to fill the weave) within 8 to 24 hours
: of eachother. What is the reason for this? Is it a bonding
: thing? Are there ways to "adjust" this? Another
: question I have is in regard to "filling the weave".
: Should the entire surface look like glass when you look at it at
: an angle? No fiberglass texture peeking through? If you need to
: add a little more in certain areas later, is that a problem?

: Any help is appreciated. I am a rank amateur but feel I have done
: some good work so far........

Once the epoxy is fully cured you can only get a mechanical bond, the surface is roughed up (sanded) and that provides a "tooth" for the new epoxy to bond to. If it's recoated before it's fully cured you get a chemical bond, the two (or more) layers become one, it's much stronger and the surface doesn't need sanded. Sanding the first coat or two you really want to avoid, it's easy to sand into the glass when you do this and it's hard to get a completely clear finish if you do this. If the surface is to be painted, then none of this matters.

Bill H.