Rob, I agree with everything you say, except for the heat gun being a problem with outgassing.

The heat is applied long before the epoxy begins to set up and gets it quite fluid, the odd bubble appears on the surface, but mostly from glue voids in the stripping as the epoxy runs into these tiny spaces and displaces the air inside, and as soon as the heat is removed the temps on the locally warmed up spot start dropping to shop temps again very quickly and any bubbles are easily tipped off with a brush, although they mostly just go away. The heat applied with the heat gun is not penetrating that deep, it is just blown over the surface to get the epoxy fluid and I don't think it actually gets that deep into the timber.

Years ago, before the advent of the Internet, I had a bad experience with outgassing all over a boat, and I am very aware of the possibilities and always turn the heat down after a first coat has been applied to the surface. Second coat too actually.

I also had an spot light applying heat locally to an area once and got localised outgassing when I left it on the same area for too long. The bubbles mostly dissipated, but not altogether. The heat gun is much safer for applying local heat because you can't forget about it and leave it for too long.

Most amateur builders' shops are too cold for much of the year so we use any means we have at our disposal that won't break the bank.

If I was to turn pro, (unlikely, because can't see how one could raise a family on the proceeds), I would have to ramp up the workspace to be sure.

Thanks for you valuable input. I have learned much from you, and follow many of your methods and tenets. Trade secrets are usually held jealously in secret. There is much Generosity of spirit on this forum.

Et